HELLO, my name is Dave Stokes and I am the Publicity Director for Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival. It’s great to be working in partnership with the Bridgwater Mercury again, and every two weeks a member of the carnival’s publicity team will be providing news and insights into the UK’s oldest carnival.

After a two year gap, I am pleased to confirm our treasured carnival is set to return to the streets of Bridgwater in 2022. Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival will take place on Saturday 5 November, after the 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The origins of our carnival dates back to 1605 and The Gunpowder Plot, and nowadays the event attracts nearly 100 competitive entries, including breath-taking carnival carts up to 100ft in length and lit by thousands of lights, and spectacular masqueraders on foot. People from all over the UK and indeed around the world always descend upon Bridgwater on the night the carnival comes to town.

With just under nine months to go, preparations are already in full swing for Bridgwater Carnival 2022. Coach companies are starting to book their parking areas for the night, and those who like watching the carnival procession in style are booking hospitality tickets. This early interest has been stimulated by a special book for confidence policy for this year, whereby refunds will be given for coach parking, hospitality, grandstand tickets, etc if this year’s event is cancelled as a result of the Pandemic. Tickets for the all seater grandstands which line the carnival procession route will be available to order from Friday 1 April. Costing £21 each, the tickets will be available from Bridgwater Carnival’s online shop or from the carnival centre (High Street, Bridgwater).

Also returning in 2022 are the Bridgwater Carnival Concerts. This year’s concerts will take place between Monday 3 October to Saturday 15 October at Bridgwater Town Hall, and tickets go on sale from Sunday 1 May. Ticket prices range from £9.50 to £16 and will be available from the online shop or from the carnival centre.

However, before all of this, Bridgwater carnivalites have a royal engagement to honour. Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival has received a special invitation to take part in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant in London on 5 June 2022. Preparations are well underway to create a special cart for the event, which marks the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen’s accession to the throne.

For all of the latest news carnival news, visit Bridgwater Carnival’s website www.bridgwatercarnival.org.uk.