Bridgwater Carnival Draws Thousands, Leading to Road Closures

Traffic restrictions have been implemented as thousands of attendees converge on the UK’s longest-running carnival. The Bridgwater Carnival procession is scheduled to commence at 18:00 GMT and is projected to draw over 100,000 individuals to the locality. Acknowledged as the UK’s most ancient carnival and among Europe’s most extensive illuminated parades, this event marks the initial installment of seven yearly carnival circuits within the county, traditionally occurring near Bonfire Night and tracing its origins to the 1605 Gunpowder Plot. The day’s activities commenced at 10:00 GMT, with multiple thoroughfares having been shut down in anticipation of the parade. Specific roads, including Cornhill, High Street, Lamb Lane, and Clare Street, have been inaccessible since 08:00 GMT, while Parkway Knowle Road and Trevor Road were closed at 12:00 GMT. Effective from 16:00 GMT, additional roads will also be subject to closure: Over 2,000 individuals contribute to the execution of the carnival, with 99 distinct entries participating in this year’s event. Alan Windsor, representing the Marketeers Carnival Club, stated that preparing the carnival carts demands considerable effort. He remarked, “[We were] working throughout the night last night, we’ll be working until we start Bridgwater Carnival.” Approximately 1,000 participants are slated to perform in the procession, among them 90-year-old Irene Hill, a former Carnival Queen. Ms. Hill, alongside numerous other family members, has participated in the carnival for several decades. “When I was six years old we formed as a club, and it’s been ever since then,” commented Ms. Hill, who is associated with the Nunsford Nutters Carnival club. Tiffany Crumrine and her 76-year-old father, Bob Crumrine, have traveled 4,635 miles from Colorado, America, specifically to witness the procession. Ms. Crumrine mentioned discovering a video on TikTok last year, describing it as “like nothing I have ever seen before.” For updates, follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Story ideas can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.