Wincanton Carnival 2016 VIDEO

You can watch the full video of the 2015 carnival here, to see how this year's compares.  

On Friday 14th October Wincanton Carnival returned for its second outing after a six year absence. The weather was good and the crowd big; stretching from the junction of High Street and Common Road all the way down through town and out to the official end point in Bennett’s Field Tading Estate.

From mid-afternoon carnival floats assembled in the Bayford Hill area, whilst the walking entries gathered at the top of Common Road. The event began in the customary way, with the firing of two firework rockets high into the sky to signal the start of the procession, into which Marshals controlled the filtering of the floats and walking entries.

Carnival Queen Nicola Boulton, Princess Jessica Mogg, and Prince Leo Betteridge rode in their coach, loaned by the Shepton Mallet Carnival Society, pulled along by a huge vehicle loaned by Avon Motors (FJ Chalke Ltd) of Wincanton, displaying the trophy that the Wessex Circuit awarded Wincanton in 2015, for being the ‘Best Carnival on the Wessex Circuit’.

The carnival has always been a great family event, and this year’s saw people of all ages entering into the spirit. With the music of the floats, bands, majorettes and the excellent walking entries there was a real carnival atmosphere, clearly enjoyed by the audience who cheered and applauded all the entries. The Blackdown Samba Band brought a real Brazilian carnival rhythm to the event.

One particular walking entry, a little girl, possibly not even of primary school age, stole many hearts as she walked the route wearing illuminated fairy wings and waving to the audience with her wand. For her, the route must have been the equivalent of walking a marathon. She surely slept well that night.

The carnival has changed quite a bit since those of the previous decade. Back then the route was a windy clockwise loop starting and ending in Bennett’s Field, incorporating a rest zone in Balsam Fields, the main crowds concentrated in the town centre area. Now, the procession is a straight run down High Street and South Street to the end point in Bennett’s Field Trading Estate, and the audience stretches the whole length of the route, likely drawing on the residential expansion to the west side of town.

During the course of the evening carnival collectors raised approximately £1600, 50% of which the committee will distribute to local charities who have made successful grant applications. The other 50% will go towards the £9000 needed to finance the 2017 carnival.

Awards will be made early next year. If your local organisation would like to apply for a grant from the Carnival, the application form is available on their website, www.wincantoncarnival.co.uk.

What’s next?

The 2016 carnival is over, but preparation for 2017 starts now! The committee needs your help to plan and execute the event. To keep this great event running contact them via their website or call 07484 136644.

Carnival awards

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