Weston-super-Mare Carnival Seeks Community Support Amid Financial Challenges

The public is being strongly encouraged to attend and support a carnival that has been encountering financial difficulties. The Weston-super-Mare Carnival has been held for over 50 years, but its organizers have been struggling to cover expenses, attributing this to a scarcity of donations and the retirement of committee members. The event scheduled for Friday evening is anticipated to be the largest to date, featuring more than 90 carts and the introduction of a new Carnival Village. Jan Matthews, the carnival’s chief marshal, stated: “If we don’t get some money in, we won’t be able to run it [in the future].” She further commented: “It costs us so much to actually put the event on, people don’t realise that.” Beyond purchasing a programme for the Friday evening event, organizers are hoping for donations, either by text message or at the point of entry, to help secure the carnival’s continuation. Additionally, the committee is calling for individuals to volunteer their assistance in organizing the event for the following year. Dick Berry, who chairs the carnival committee, remarked: “This year more than ever, I want to stress how important it is that the people of Weston-super-Mare and our surrounding area come along to show their support.” He continued: “We want to make sure that future generations get the opportunity to enjoy our wonderful carnival for many more years to come.” The newly introduced Carnival Village will include two elevated seating stands located on South Parade, complete with VIP pods, a funfair, beverage services, and musical entertainment. Furthermore, attendees will, for the first time, be required to go through security checkpoints, where they will be prompted to contribute a minimum of £2 towards the event’s organization and acquire a programme. Ms Matthews expressed her anticipation for the event, notwithstanding the challenges. She commented: “Seeing them all lit up and ready to go out today will be absolutely wonderful.” Mr Berry added: “We hope that everyone who comes will have a wonderful evening.” He concluded with: “Stay safe and fingers crossed for fair weather.” 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 disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.