AS THE countdown to this year’s Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival continues, twenty-three large carnival masks, designed and decorated by school children, have been placed on display in and around Bridgwater town centre.
The masks all form part of a special trail that participants can follow, and those who successfully locate them all will be entered into a prize draw, where one lucky contestant will win a £25 gift/ book token.
Twenty local schools and nurseries have taken part in this Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival education outreach activity, which has seen children using different techniques to decorate the large masks in line with the given theme of ‘Jubilation’ – the name of the carnival cart built by carnivalites for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant back in June.
The schools and nurseries which have taken part in this initiative are:
- Bridgwater College Academy
- Buttercups Nursery
- Brent Knoll Primary School
- Cannington Primary School
- Eastover Primary School
- Little Crickets Nursery
- Martock Primary School
- Northgate Primary School
- North Newton Primary School
- North Petherton Primary School
- Otterhampton Primary School
- Pawlett Primary School
- Polden Bower Special Education School
- Puriton Primary School
- St John and St Francis Primary School
- St Joseph’s Primary School
- St Mary’s Primary School
- Somerset Bridge Primary School
- Westover Green Primary School
- Willowdown Primary School
The Mask Trail is operational until 12 noon on Friday 4 November, and entry forms are available from the Bridgwater Carnival Centre, High Street, or from www.bridgwatercarnival.org.uk.
Most masks can be seen from shop windows, but a few will need to be viewed by entering the premises.
Sarah Humphrey, Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival’s entertainment and schools liaison officer, said: “Following the pandemic, this year more than ever we are trying to engage with local children, to really get them excited about carnival and understand what it’s all about.
“We have also been visiting local schools to give talks about the carnival, its history and how things have changed over the years.
“Today’s children are the carnivalites of tomorrow, and hopefully they will go on to play their own unique part in ensuring our carnival tradition continues for future generations to enjoy.”
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