Bridgwater Carnival 2024 in England

Bridgwater Carnival is the UK's oldest and one of Europe's largest illuminated carnival processions. This grand event, held annually on the first Saturday in November, features a spectacular carnival parade, vibrant concerts, and the unique tradition of squibbing, all set in Bridgwater, Somerset.

Carnival Show

The Bridgwater Fair offers a delightful array of entertainment that will enchant everyone, featuring stilt walkers, jugglers, street theatre, and marching bands. The festivities begin at 10 am, so arriving early will ensure you make the most of the day's excitement. From 10:30 am to 6 pm, enjoy continuous music on the Cornhill Stage, while the High Street Stage blends live music with captivating street theatre. Additional entertainment awaits at the High Street area, Angel Place Shopping Centre, and St. Mary’s Church, where you can also enjoy marching bands and majorettes.

Lineup

At the Bridgwater Carnival, the Cornhill Stage will feature Footloose Four, Ashley Ross Quinn, Shalana Serafina, Jordan Hill, Diamond Dolly, Two Tone, and more, creating a dynamic lineup throughout the day. The High Street Performance Area will host Fox King Dance Academy, Man on the Moon, Bridgwater Rock Choir, At Your Service, Bridgwater Sea Cadets, Street Heat Samba, Medina Marching Band, and Little Big Horns, offering a variety of engaging performances.

Angel Place Shopping Centre will present ACTS, Prof James Gordon's Famous Punch & Judy, The Little Big Horns, James Alexander, and YMTC. St Mary’s Church will showcase Somerset Songbirds, Wells City Band, and Bridgwater Rock Choir. Around town, enjoy the Marvellous Magical Theatre, James Alexander, Higher Beings (Stilt Walkers), and Children's Fairground Rides.

Carnival Parade

The main carnival procession begins at 6 pm, with the pre-procession starting at 5:30 pm on Bath Road. The 1.2-mile (2 km) route concludes at the Clink and Northgate junction. Roads around Bridgwater will close at 5 pm, so plan to arrive early via the M5, accessing the town from Junction 23 if you're running late.

Squibbing

After the parade finishes, the visitors head to High Street to watch the Squibbing Display—the simultaneous firing of lots of large fireworks, also called “squibs.” This entertainment is something super unique to Bridgwater and can’t be seen anywhere else in the world. When over 150 “squibbers” light up their squibs simultaneously, it looks like a long magical trail of fire. We could say it’s just a large firework, but in fact, it looks way more impressive. This illuminated carnival is one of the brightest UK carnivals worth visiting for sure.

Tickets & Parking

Grandstand seats for the Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival are priced at £30. Parking in the town is limited and can fill up quickly, so it's highly recommended to use the Park & Ride service. This will make it much easier to get into town and return to your car.