WITH Bridgwater Carnival now behind us, locals who missed out or perhaps prefer a less-packed, more local event, will be looking forward to North Petherton Carnival this weekend.

All the stunning, expertly constructed and organised carnival clubs and their carts will travel through the town from 7pm on Saturday November 11.

From parking, to procession info, and road closures, here's everything you need to know ahead of this year's North Petherton Carnival.

Parking

North Petherton Ruby Club on the A38 near to the start of the procession is one of the three recommended car parks.

Also included are the Sedgemoor Auction & Market Centre, just off the A38 Bridgwater Road, and Moto Services (Huntworth side, north side) nearer to the finish line.

A spokesperson added: "Be careful if you use any other areas for parking as many of the hotel or business car parks have ANPR controlled parking and are rigorously enforced by the operators if a non authorised vehicle is parked in their car park.  

"Please do not park on the route, motorway or slip roads or between the line up area and the start of the route."

Procession information

The procession is estimated to take around two hours to pass any single viewing point.

It will follow the usual route, which begins on Shovel Lane, and then follows up the Bridgwater Road/ A38, and finishes on Taunton Road just before the roundabout.

Several food stalls will be located along the procession route for those in need of hot food and drink.

Attendants are encouraged to wrap up warm as the weather will likely be very cold during the evening event.

Road closures

The A38 will have a contraflow put in place from Friday November 10 at about 8pm between Thurloxton Fruit Farm and the Shearston turning (usually a dual carriageway), in order for carnival clubs to store their carts ahead of the event.

Moon Lane may also be closed (except for residential access) to safely store some of the smaller carts.

The main road closures on the A38 are put in place at 5:30pm on Saturday evening and will remain in place until it is safe to re-open the route. Normally, most will have been lifted by 11pm.

A spokesperson explained: "Following the issues at our last Carnival in 2022, there will be NO ACCESS beyond the Huntworth Roundabout for parking at the Sedgemoor Auction / Market Centre once the roundabout is closed.

"Alternative parking areas on Huntworth Business Park will be signed.

"So the A38 between Walford Cross and Huntworth Roundabout is closed at 1730 to enable the procession formation to progress safely through the Town.

"The main dispersal area on the A38 between the Huntworth roundabout and the Showground roundabout closes at about 20:00 on the Saturday evening and is often the last stretch of road to re-open usually between 2300 and midnight.

"The walking entry dispersal area is on Wilstock Way up to the Widgeon Road junction and this will close at 1730 on the Saturday evening.

"Carnival is one of the Town’s traditional events, please enjoy the spectacle and please work with the marshals to ensure that we have a safe event which we can hold for many more years to come."