Bridgwater Carnival

Approximate Journey Time: 2 hours 30 mins

Time at destination: 6 hours

There is a comfort stop on route.

Join us on a trip to Bridgwater to the UK's oldest carnival. Spend time exploring this beautiful town before finding your spot to watch the main event. The illuminated procession is filled with wonderous carts, marching bands, carnival gangs and charities, all dancing to their own beat through the town. Following this, witness the very unique firework display named 'squibbing', you'll have to attend to find out what that's all about. This is an event not to be missed.

Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival History

The origins of our annual carnival in Bridgwater can be traced back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators, failed in their attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. That story is well known to everyone, but what is not so widely acknowledged is that it was King James 1st and his parliament who decreed that the events of 5 November should be commemorated annually with the lighting of bonfires, a tradition which is celebrated across the nation to this very day.

Maybe it was because Bridgwater was staunchly protestant in those days that the townsfolk celebrated with greater vigour than anywhere else, creating a tradition of widespread merrymaking on the annual anniversary of the fifth . Or maybe it was just an excuse to enjoy an evening of fun around the bonfire before the long, cold nights of winter really set in.

Whatever the reason, those celebrations have now grown into the magnificent spectacle which takes to the streets of Bridgwater each year in early November.