Home / Things to Do in Somerset / Somerset Carnivals

Somerset Carnivals

Somerset's Mardi Gras!

Between the end of September and mid November, the streets of many Somerset towns and villages are an exciting blaze of colour as the Somerset Illuminated Carnivals take place.

These processions of illuminated lorries (called 'carts' or 'floats') are part of an ancient tradition which stretches back as far as the 1600s when many parts of Somerset commemorated the Gunpowder Plot. Grand fireworks displays and street entertainment adds to the sense of fiesta and fun.

The floats can be huge, over 50 feet long and covered in hundreds of lightbulbs. Dwarfing the streets, these magnificent edifices drawing awe and wonder from the crowds are the results of months of work by the Carnival Clubs. These spectacular events can be hard to describe and you really do need to see them to believe them!

Some of the carnivals are larger than others but even in the smaller ones, the 'walking entries' provide entertainment and often much hilarity!

The dates for the 2008 Somerset Carnivals are yet to be confirmed, but as a guide the 2007 dates are shown below: -

Note: They usually start around 7pm and finish around 9pm

22 Sep (Sat) 7:00pm Frome
29 Sep (Sat) 7:30pm Wellington
6 Oct (Sat) 7:15pm Ilminster
13 Oct (Sat) 7:30pm Castle Cary
13 Oct (Sat) 7:15pm Chard
19 Oct (Fri) 7:30pm Crewkerne
20 Oct (Sat) 7:00pm Taunton
20 Oct (Sat) 7:00pm Wincanton
9 Nov (Fri) 7:00pm Bridgwater
10 Nov (Sat) 7:00pm North Petherton
12 Nov (Mon) 7:30pm Burnham-on-Sea /
Highbridge
14 Nov (Wed) 7:30pm Shepton Mallet
15 Nov (Thu) 7:15pm Midsomer Norton
16 Nov (Fri) 7:30pm Wells
17 Nov (Sat) 7.00pm Glastonbury
19 Nov (Mon) 7:15pm Weston-super-Mare