THE 2024 carnival concerts are officially a ‘sell out’.

All tickets for the popular two week long show were snapped up four weeks before the curtain rises for the opening night on Monday, September 30.

Even though there has been a 13 per cent reduction in the number of tickets available for this year’s carnival concerts due to planned town hall enhancement work, it doesn’t detract from the fact that an incredible 3,636 tickets have been sold for the 12 performances.

This is a magnificent achievement, especially when we consider the current difficult economic times in which we find ourselves.

The continued success of the concerts is testament to both the dedicated efforts of the talented clubs, dance troupes and front of curtain acts involved, and the committed endeavours of those who organise and watch them. We should rightly be very proud of our carnival concerts here in Bridgwater.

Speaking of shows and concerts, there has been a change to the originally advertised dates of the 2025 Old Folks Show.

The three performances have now been brought forward by three weeks from their original date to Thursday, February 27, Friday, February 28, and Saturday, March 1.

Again, this is to facilitate the ongoing refurbishment work at Bridgwater Town Hall and will ensure there will be no impact on the rehearsal time for carnival clubs taking part in next year’s carnival concerts.

Please do make a note of this date change in your diary.

This year seems to be going really quickly, and it’s hard to believe it is now less than two months to our carnival procession on Saturday, November 2.

The window for applying to enter closed on September 1, and I am pleased to report the number of entries received is very slightly up on last year.

An increasing stream of enquiries about the event are continuing to pour in from all parts of the country, and we are all being kept busy responding to these.

In my last column, I mentioned that we were still looking for an organisation to sponsor the official Guy Fawkes Cart which traditionally leads the procession on carnival night.

Since then, I am pleased to report that Somerset Care has kindly stepped in and are now confirmed sponsors of the cart.

A big thank you to them for their help and support.

Other confirmed sponsors for this year’s carnival since the last Carnival Column are Hays Travel, Bridgwater & Taunton College, Pardoes and South West Hire and Sales, and again we thank them for their generosity and assistance.

For all of the latest Bridgwater Carnival news, visit www.bridgwatercarnival.org.uk or our official social media channels - Facebook (@BridgwaterGuyFawkesCarnival), Twitter (@BCarnival), Instagram (@bridgwatercarnival), and TikTok (@bridgwater_carnival).

Until the next time…

Dave Stokes
Publicity Director
Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival