THE application window to enter into this year’s Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival opens on Thursday, August 1 and closes on Sunday, September 1 - writes Bridgwater Carnival publicity director, Dave Stokes.

Potential entrants will be able to apply online to take part in our carnival procession, which takes to the streets on Saturday, November 2, by completing an electronic form which will be available from our official website – www.bridgwatercarnival.org.uk.

The standardised entry form will also allow entrants to apply to enter the other seven carnivals affiliated to the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnivals Association (SCGFCA) – Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea, Weston Super Mare, North Petherton, Shepton Mallet, Wells, Glastonbury and Midsomer Norton.

In our 2023 carnival procession, there were 98 entries which consisted of 44 carnival carts and over 1,000 performers.

Just under half a million individual lights (lamps and LEDs) illuminated the skyline as the entries wound their way around the town’s 1.7 mile carnival route. We are hoping we receive a similar number of entries for this year’s carnival.

Talking about key dates, here are a couple more for your diary.

We will be holding an open day at the end of this month where individuals and groups can find out more about getting involved, and potentially benefitting, from this year’s carnival.

The open day, which will be held from 11am to 3pm on Sunday, July 28, at the Carnival Centre, High Street, is an opportunity for charities, community groups, other good causes and individuals to drop in and find out more.

More information about the event will be published shortly.

And if you haven’t already done so, we would really appreciate it you could help us to win £1,000 by nominating Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival for a Movement for Good Award. Nominating is easy and all you need to do is visit www.movementforgood.com, click on
‘Nominate a charity for £1,000’ and enter Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Limited in the search field.

The more times our carnival is nominated, the greater chance we have of being selected, when the next winner is announced on Monday, July 22.

Thank you, and please ask your family and friends to nominate us too.

Finally, it is now only 17 weeks until the carnival next comes to town. The big countdown is well and truly underway.