THE biggest week of the year in Bridgwater is fast approaching – even if the participants move quite slowly…

Bridgwater Carnival is this year set to take place on Friday, November 2, bringing dozens of extravagant vehicles and hundreds of performers to town streets.

However, carnival weekend celebrations are due to get underway with a bang on Friday, November 1, with the annual Grand Fireworks Display at St Matthew’s Field.

Sponsored by Bridgwater Town Council and Somerset Council, the event gets underway at 3.30pm, with stalls and fairground rides on offer before the fireworks themselves start at 7.30pm.

Parking on the field will cost £7, with all proceeds going towards the official Bridgwater Carnival charity and other town charities and organisations.

The weekend gets underway with the fireworks on Friday night. Picture: Bridgwater Photographic Society

The following day sees the main event – the carnival procession.

Bridgwater is widely regarded as the oldest carnival in the UK and in recent years has raised more than £65,000 for charities and good causes.

On carnival day itself, the build up to the grand procession starts in the town centre at 10.30am with a full programme of street entertainment for revellers out and about early.

The procession itself starts at 6pm, and will consist of 100 entries, with nearly 50 illuminated carnival carts and many other walking entries.

Then, as judges consider their scores, the throngs will be entertained by around 200 squibbers, who will line the High Street for the traditional dazzling display.

“For those who are unable to make it into Bridgwater on the big night, the carnival is also being streamed live on the internet,” a spokesperson said.

“This is thanks to the technical expertise of Somerset Web Services, Maniac Films, QSS IT and Timeless Images.

“Viewers can tune in from 6pm on carnival night with the procession coming into range of the Cornhill cameras at about 7.15pm.

“For those who would like to make use of the streaming service, all that is needed is internet access, and in return viewers are asked to consider making an optional donation to the Bridgwater Carnival charity.”

For more about the Bridgwater Carnival live stream and to watch it, visit live.bridgwatercarnival.org.uk.