SHEPTON MALLET CARNIVAL

This years Carnival is being held on Wednesday 9th November 2011.

Shepton Mallet Carnival is part of the Somerset Guy Fawkes Circuit. Traditionally held early November to commemorate the attempted blowing up of the Houses of Parliament. Somerset Carnivals are very highly regarded as the largest spectacular illuminated processions in the world. The Guy Fawkes Circuit starts at Bridgwater then on to North Petherton, Burnham on Sea, Shepton Mallet, Wells, Glastonbury and finishing at Weston-Super-Mare.

The Somerset Carnivals date back more than 400 years, and are one of the most spectacular unique events in Somerset today. In some of the bigger locations, such as Bridgwater and Glastonbury, you can expect to see crowds of up to 150,000.

Carts as they are referred to in Somerset, are designed and built by dedicated carnival clubs around the West Country. These carnival clubs have many members who raise money throughout the year, and work relentlessly to achieve their spectacular carnival entries. Their completed cart then takes part in the carnival parade along with over 100 other entries, these range from single masqueraders dancing in the streets to 100ft illuminated carnival carts, some with up to 30,000 light bulbs, these will be in the categories of tableau, feature or comic all pulled by decorated tractors.
 

Carnival is very competitive and entrants are striving to obtain every mark in order to win the coveted trophies. Judging takes place whilst the procession is on the move and the results are made known after the procession has ended, but all aiming to win the prestigious county cup.

To stage the carnival costs over £10,000.00 this includes things like Crash Barriers, Insurance, Radios, Road Signs, Printing and prize monies. Besides which every entrant from the largest illuminated float to the smallest walker receives attendance money. All other carnival officials, marshals, judges and collectors are volunteers and are proud to stage such a fantastic show with the help from all the visiting Carnival Clubs and Masqueraders.

The Shepton Mallet Carnival committee takes great care to plan and marshal the route, we want everyone to enjoy the carnival from a safe position, on the pavement is best. There will be fewer collecting floats in an effort to reduce the throwing of coins which is so dangerous, but more collectors and collecting buckets, please help us collect even more money from the street collection. Carnival costs to stage the procession go up every year, so we need your donations - a £2 coin in the bucket would ensure a bumper collection.

The generosity of the crowds at last year's Shepton Mallets Carnival has boosted dozens of local charities, including the restoration appeal for the towns historic Market Cross.

At its cheque presentation evening at Bowlish House, virtually all the charities to benefit from donations sent a representative and so it was a very busy evening for carnival chairman Don Clifford, ably assisted by carnival queen Tijiana Johnson, who presented the cheques to more than 30 clubs, projects and charities.

So please do come along to this years Carnival on Wednesday 9th November, enjoy the evening and help support all these worthy causes!