Taunton Carnival returns this Saturday (October 15) and is set to light up the county town once more.
The 55th annual Illuminated Procession sets off this Saturday at 7pm from the bridge on Tangier Way and down Wood Street.
It turns right onto Bridge Street before going up through the town center to East Street and down over the East Reach to the finish line on Chritchard Way.
Carnival secretary John Lewis said: “There are different challenges every year. We have had sponsorship and support from many local companies over the years for many of our activities. Without them none of this would happen.
“What we need to cap it all off now is good weather and full collection tins this weekend. Please dig deep to help us keep Taunton’s carnival tradition alive.”
Planned route.
procession
This year’s Miss Taunton, Carnival Queen, King Sabrina and Carnival Princess Jemima Gee will take pride of place near the front of the procession.
They are traveling with a 1935 Austin Light 12/4 Open Road Tourer kindly provided by Terry and Jenny Vowles.
Floats and walkers depicting themes ranging from Tropical Paradise to Gangster Grannies will walk the mile-long route, taking about an hour to pass each point.
Over the past three Saturdays Wellington, Ilminster and Chard have hosted the Procession with most of the entries appearing there proudly displaying the costumes they have spent weeks putting together.
As well as being out to entertain the crowds, they are competing in a dozen different classes for coveted local trophies and show for the overall South Somerset Federation awards.
Carnivals are full of friendly rivalry, so keeping the cups aloft ahead of the competition can be more important than the prize money.
Lifting the rear end will be the one tool organizers hope they won’t need – a breakdown recovery unit kindly provided by Frost Rescue from Bridgwater.
Carnival King Sabrina King and Princess Jemima Gee.
VOTE FOR YOUR WINNERS
You can choose your winners on the night. Voting for the Public Election contest will be on Facebook. All the votes from the four South Somerset Federation towns added together will decide the best entries for the best swim and best walk.
CHARITY
The Taunton Carnival Committee does all the hard work of organizing the Procession for two main purposes – to provide a spectacle in the town’s calendar of events and to raise money for local charities.
During the evening procession, dozens of official collectors will be on the ground.
Taunton Carnival treasurer Roz Swinburne said: “If everyone put £1 or £50 coins into the collection, we’d easily have a record collection! Of course we don’t mind what coins or bills come our way, but we need lots of them, please. We’re happy if it takes us all day on Sunday to count.”
This year people can also give using Tap & Pay and QR codes. The codes will be displayed on posters throughout the city, as well as in all collection boxes. Some collectors will have Tap & Pay machines.
Safety
The Carnival Committee works very closely with all Emergency Services to ensure that everything on and off the Procession route runs smoothly on Carnival night. There are marshals along the route to keep an eye on the spectators and make sure the procession passes safely. These are closely supported by the local Police, with St John Ambulance crews from across Somerset around the route in case of accidents to participants or spectators. Senior staff from the Emergency Services and other Agencies come together with the organizers in a shared ‘Control Room’ where they are ready to co-ordinate action should anything unforeseen happen. All Carnival Clubs have safety guidelines and good practice notes to follow to keep their members safe.
