One of Europe’s largest illuminated carnival processions is set to return to the streets of Bridgwater in 2022 after a two year gap.
Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival will take place on Saturday 5 November, after the 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The carnival is the oldest event of its kind in the UK with origins dating back to 1605 and The Gunpowder Plot. Nowadays the event attracts nearly 100 competitive entries, including breath-taking carnival carts up to 100ft in length and lit by thousands of lights, and spectacular masqueraders on foot. People from all over the UK and indeed around the world always descend upon Bridgwater on the night the carnival comes to town.
With just under ten months to go, preparations are already in full swing for Bridgwater Carnival 2022. Coach companies are starting to book their parking areas for the night, and those who like watching the carnival procession in style are booking hospitality tickets. This early interest has been stimulated by a special book for confidence policy for this year, whereby refunds will be given for coach parking, hospitality, grandstand tickets, etc if this year’s event is cancelled as a result of the Pandemic. Tickets for the all seater grandstands which line the carnival procession route will be available to order from Friday 1 April. Costing £21 each, the tickets will be available from Bridgwater Carnival’s online shop or from the carnival centre (High Street, Bridgwater).
Also returning in 2022 are the Bridgwater Carnival Concerts. This year’s concerts will take place between Monday 3 October to Saturday 15 October at Bridgwater Town Hall, and tickets go on sale from Sunday 1 May. Ticket prices range from £9.50 to £16 and will be available from the online shop or from the carnival centre.
However, before all of this, Bridgwater carnivalites have a royal engagement to honour. Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival has received a special invitation to take part in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant in London on 5 June 2022. Preparations are well underway to create a special cart for the event, which marks the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen’s accession to the throne.
2022 is going to be a special year for Bridgwater Carnival… it’s the year the carnival comes back to town
For all of the latest news carnival news, visit Bridgwater Carnival’s new and innovative website www.bridgwatercarnival.org.uk. The site has been developed by Taunton web design company, Somerset Web Services, who are an official sponsor of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival.
