AS the Christmas and New Year celebrations are over for another year and we start looking forward to the next 12 months, I thought I would take the opportunity to use the first carnival column of the year to confirm some key carnival dates, writes Bridgwater Carnival Publicity Director, Dave Stokes.

So please get your new diaries, calendars and electronic devices at the ready, and take note of the following:

  • Old Folks Show, Bridgwater Town Hall - Thursday 21 March to Saturday 23 March 2024
  • Carnival Concerts, Bridgwater Town Hall - Monday 30 September to Saturday 12 October 2024
  • Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival - Saturday 2 November 2024
  • Highbridge & Burnham on Sea Carnival - Monday 4 November 2024
  • Weston Super Mare Carnival - Friday 8 November 2024
  • North Petherton Carnival - Saturday 9 November 2024
  • Shepton Mallet Carnival - Wednesday 13 November 2024
  • Wells Carnival - Friday 15 November 2024
  • Glastonbury Chilkwell Carnival - Saturday 16 November 2024

Information on how and when to get tickets for the Old Folks Show, carnival concerts, and grandstands seats for the procession will be shared through this column, on our official website, and through our social media channels in the coming weeks.

Talking of social media, Emma Britton has stood down from voluntarily managing the Bridgwater Carnival social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) to concentrate on her work commitments.

Emma has had a massive impact on our digital presence during the eight years in the role, and she has really made an enormous difference with our online reputation and brand.

We will miss her very much, and we thank her for her professionalism, her patience and integrity, and the advice and support she has given us.

Emma is a true carnivalite, and we know she will continue to promote Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival in everything she does.

We wish her well with her ever-increasing work commitments.

Taking her place is another well-known carnivalite, Lewis White, who has been a member of the Gremlins Carnival Club for the past 15 years.

He owns and manages his own global shipping services business and is also prominently involved with Bridgwater Operatic Society.

Lewis will take over our social media reigns in the coming weeks, with local carnivalite, Andy Bennett, providing assistance with visual content, small film clips and photography.

With under 300 days to go to the 2024 Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, it will soon be time to once again start ramping up the publicity for the carnival. Time really does fly, and before we know it, the big night will be upon us.

Until the next time…