WALKING carnival parades WILL take place in Bridgwater and Burnham this month - after the cancellation of the full events.

As part of the Sedgemoor Masquerade Week, a walking costume parade will make its way through the streets of Bridgwater on Saturday (November 6), with a squibbing display and virtual carnival also planned.

On what would have been the day of Bridgwater Carnival 2021, the toned-down programme of events and activities gets underway at 10.30am, when ACTS will be performing at the Angel Place Shopping Centre.

Then, there will be a variety of performances in the town centre from 2.30pm, including the Sea Cadets Band, Exmouth Shanty Men, stilt walkers and street theatre acts.

The walking costume parade starts from Sedgemoor District Council’s car park in Mount Street at 5.30pm.

The 1.2-mile route will run in a clockwise direction around the streets of Bridgwater, and the 45 entries will pass along The Clink, East Quay, Carvery Road, New Road, Eastover, Fore Street, Cornhill, High Street, Mount Street, and Northgate, before finishing back at the Sedgemoor District Council car park.

There will not be any carnival carts in the procession.

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Then, at 7.30pm, a squibbing display will take place in the High Street.

There will be some temporary road closures in place in the town on the day to facilitate the walking costume parade and the squibbing.

These will be set up on the route at around 4.30pm, and will remain in place until after the parade has passed.

The High Street will also be closed to vehicles from 2pm, and will remain shut until after the squibbing display has finished at approximately 8pm.

Spectators are asked to arrive on foot where possible and to stay away from the walking costume parade and the squibbing if they feel unwell, and to consider taking a lateral flow test before attending.

Before that, however, on Friday (November 5), Bridgwater's Grand Firework Display will take place at St Matthew's Field, from 7.30pm.

On the 416th anniversary The Gunpower Plot, Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival will be hosting the display, sponsored by Bridgwater Town Council and supported by Sedgemoor District Council for the fifteenth year.

The build up to the fireworks display will start at 3pm, as there will be other attractions at St Matthew’s Field to entertain the family, including a handful of fairground rides, provided by the world-famous Chipperfield family.

Car parking on the field will be available from 6pm at a cost of £5 per car, with proceeds going towards to the official Bridgwater Carnival charity.

Spectators are encouraged to take a lateral flow test before attending and are asked to stay away if feeling unwell. They should also respect the health and concerns of others, wear face masks wherever possible, and stand in less crowded spaces and areas.

Dave Croker, chairman of the Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee, said: “Despite the fact that our carnival concerts and illuminated carnival processions which we know and love will not return to their full glory until 2022, it really is positive to be in a position to organise some much needed entertainment and enjoyment for the town.

“So many community events have been cancelled due to the Pandemic, and even though we will not have a single carnival cart in sight, these low key and symbolic activities which we are planning will hopefully put a smile back on all of our faces and help us prepare for the 2022 carnival season.”

Cllr Leigh Redman, Mayor of Bridgwater, said: “Bridgwater Carnival means a lot to our town, it is a big part of our community, and as Mayor it gives me great pleasure to see some carnival related activities returning to our town this year.

"I cannot wait to see them, and I would like to thank all of the carnivalites involved for their tremendous efforts and dedication.

"Bridgwater is open for business, and Bridgwater Town Council is proud to support the carnival activities and the positive impact they have on our local economy."

What's happening in Burnham?

In Burnham, on Sunday (November 7), the Burnham-on-Sea Grand Firework Display takes place from 6.30pm on The Esplanade.

Organised by Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, the event has proved popular in the past with spectators and has been well supported by people in and around the Sedgemoor area.

And the following day, the town will host its own Walking Costume Parade from 7pm.

The route will run in an anti-clockwise direction around the streets of the town, and the entries will pass along Marine Drive, Highbridge Road, Abingdon Street and Old Station Approach, before finishing outside of Haven Holiday Park.

Again, there will not be any carnival carts in the procession.

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Phil New, chairman of the Highbridge & Burnham-On-Sea Carnival Committee, added: “I am really looking forward to the week of activities, and now is the time to bring back a bit of normality to Sedgemoor.

“In Burnham, we dedicate this year’s grand costume parade to all of the key workers who have been on the front line throughout the pandemic, as well as all of the volunteers who have played a major supporting role”.

Cllr Gill Slocombe, deputy leader of Sedgemoor District Council, added: “Our carnivals and their associated activities really help to put Sedgemoor firmly on the map.

"They also bring in many benefits to the area in terms of tourism and the local economy. I am delighted to see carnival events returning, albeit in a low key way after a difficult 18 months for us all, and I am really looking forward to our carnivalites entertaining the public once again.”

Carnival as we know it will return in 2022, with Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival planned for Saturday, November 5, and Highbridge and Burnham-On-Sea Carnival for Monday, November 7.