With just five weeks until the carnival returns to town on Saturday 5 November, the final countdown has begun to Bridgwater Carnival 2022.
For the carnival clubs who are working on their spectacular entries, to the carnival organisers who are finalising the arrangements for Bridgwater’s biggest night of the year, preparations are in full swing.
Bridgwater Carnival’s origins lie in the failed exploits of Guy Fawkes, and in this, the 417th anniversary of these Gunpowder Plot celebrations, Bridgwater Carnival 2022 is set to illuminate the town’s streets for the first time since 2019 and the pandemic. This year’s carnival celebrations are testament to the town’s dedicated carnivalites and the invaluable support received from Arts Council England, the event’s main sponsor EDF’s Hinkley Point C, and many other local businesses and organisations.
On carnival day itself, the build up to the grand procession starts in the town centre at 10:30am, and carnival revellers will scarcely have time to pause for breath. There is just so much happening in the town centre during the daytime with fun planned for the whole family.
The carnival procession will start at 6pm. Over 45 illuminated carnival carts, including the royal themed cart ‘Jubilation’ which took part in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant in June, and many other walking entries will enthral the tens of thousands of people who are expected to line the route. Official charity collectors will be on the streets on carnival day and night, and organisers are hoping to beat 2019’s collection total of £21,132. As well as the official Bridgwater Carnival charity, the authorised collectors will be raising monies for other supported local charities and organisations.
The entertainment will be brought to a fitting finale when over 150 squibbers line the town’s High Street immediately after the procession for the traditional squibbing display.
For those who are unable to make it into Bridgwater on the big night, the carnival is also being streamed live. This is thanks to the technical expertise of Somerset Web Services, Maniac Films, QSS IT and Timeless Images. The live stream will officially begin at 6pm and will feature the carnival procession and squibbing display. For those who would like to make use of the streaming service, all that is needed is internet access, and in return viewers are asked to consider making an optional donation to the
Bridgwater Carnival charity. To find out more about the live stream service, please visit https://live.bridgwatercarnival.org.uk/.
For all of the latest Bridgwater Carnival news, visit www.bridgwatercarnival.org.uk or the event’s social media channels – Facebook (@BridgwaterGuyFawkesCarnival), Twitter (@BCarnival), and Instagram (@bridgwatercarnival).
