HOW does a carnival club prepare for one of the largest illuminated processions in Europe?

For Harlequin CC, the process started back in December last year. Now, with just under a month to go until Bridgwater Carnival on Saturday, November 2, the club are making the finishing touches to their award-winning cart – which scoped first prize for Best Feature Cart at the recent Wellington and Ilminster Carnivals.

The club’s theme this year is Pinball Wizard, inspired by the feature song of Tommy, The Who’s 1969 rock opera album and later 1975 film adaptation by Ken Russell. It features intricately designed, spinning colourful components of a pinball machine, all built to scale from a model.

Steve Dawe, chairman of Harlequin CC, said: “The model is the ultimate goal for a carnival club. Ours was created at the end of February. It’s the main design reference from then onwards for the cart in a process of reviewing and changing. Whatever we add, it has got to be added in stages as we go along.”

Members of the club, which was formed in 1972, participate in a democratic vote ahead of the carnival season to decide on the theme. A variety of themes are proposed and the one with the most votes is carried forward.

Bridgwater Carnival remains one of the main competitions for any carnival club in Somerset. As Steve says: “We’re an Ilminster club, but ultimately our aim is the whole circuit. We might be a small club in comparison to those based in Bridgwater, but competition is good, and we have competition in Bridgwater.”

Carnival clubs rely on the support of its members to operate, from fundraising to finishing touches. Steve said: “Ultimately, Harlequin CC is a family club. We’ve got two to three generations of the same family, all helping out and adapting the cart as we go along. We all give up so much time – I’ve done it since I was nine years old.”

Tom Russell, vice captain at Harlequin CC, has supported the club for over 20 years. He said: “I like the challenge of building a concept, from design to finish product. Also, I enjoy the social side of the club. You can’t quite explain it to people who aren’t members.”

For veteran carnival-goer, Nigel “Five Coats” Phillips, Bridgwater Carnival is the “one everyone wants to win. It contains a lot of hype that lots of people don’t understand, along with the camaraderie. To say to everyone that you’ve won an award at Bridgwater Carnival is amazing.”

Linda Caddy, Vice Chairman of Harlequin CC, reflects that carnival is a way of life. She was “born and bred into carnival” and “knows no different.” Many of the families when she first joined are still involved with the club.

The procession at Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival 2024 will take place on Saturday, November 2 from 6pm.