YMCA Carnival club was formed in 1968, and is based at the town’s YMCA headquarters and socially at the Blake Hall. The first year the club entered as a walking comic feature with props built on an old car chassis lit by car batteries.
From 1969 the members built a cart and took part as an outside feature club, and in 1972 the club were privileged to be invited to become a local Bridgwater Carnival Club. There were now new challenges for the club; to produce a stage show, to build a cart for the procession, and to take part in the traditional squibbing display at the end of Bridgwater Carnival night. A proud moment for the club was in 1979 when it won the stage show with their production of A Day at the Grand Hotel.
In 2011 a group of club members wearing carnival costumes attended the official opening of the new Bridgwater YMCA building, and presented a book on the history of Bridgwater Carnival to, His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent.
Like many clubs, there have lean years due to a lack of members, but through these difficult periods the club has been fortunate to have a group of stalwart members and helpers to keep it moving forward.
Unfotunately the club folded after the 2022 carnival.
