PROCESSION.

THIS Saturday (October 17) brings the 50th successive Taunton Carnival to town.

The annual illuminated procession moves off at 7pm sharp from the bridge in Tangier Way and down into Wood Street.

It turns right into Bridge Street before going up through the town centre into East Street and down over East Reach.

The public performance and judging ends at the junction with Wordsworth Drive.

As a prelude to the main event the ever-popular Harley Davidson motorcycles will parade around the route just before 7pm to ‘warm up’ the crowds of spectators.

Heading the procession is the Batala Samba Band from Bristol.

Feature, tableau and comic floats will eclipse the street lights with their dazzling displays using hundreds and hundreds of light bulbs interspersed between the wonderful walking entries – with themes ranging from Scott of the Antarctic to Madagascar.

All of the entries have spent weeks making costumes and building floats and have already proudly shown these off at Wellington, Ilminster and Chard.

As well as being out to entertain the crowds they are competing in a dozen different classes for coveted trophies, and points towards the overall South Somerset Federation awards.

Carnival is full of friendly rivalry so holding the cups aloft in front of the competition is more important than the prize money.

Music plays a big part in carnival, and the Bournemouth Youth Marching Band is back to entertain you, while seven troupes of majorettes will show off their marching and twirling skills whilst competing in their own class.

The whole procession comprises 68 items and will take just over an hour to pass any one point on the mile-long route.

 

CARNIVAL ROYALTY.

This year’s Miss Taunton, Carnival Queen Carly Chapman, and Carnival Princess Lexi Miller will take pride of place near the front of the procession looking regal in their gowns, cloaks and tiaras.

 

DURING THE DAY.

On Saturday morning historic cars and Harley Davidson motorcycles will process through the town centre in convoy before forming up on Castle Green.

They are always an attraction to young and old and plenty of people will cast an envious eye over them.

As an incentive to all the car owners to keep everything gleaming and in tip-top condition, Miss Taunton Carly Chapman will pick out ‘the most pleasing vehicle’ in her eyes to receive the annual Spiller Trophy.

Favourites Tone Valley Jazz Band will play two sessions set between local musical Sam Payne and Stevie Brown to help create a carnival atmosphere in the town centre.

Take a few minutes out of your Saturday shopping to stop and listen to their performances.

The Blackdown Hills Market provides a backdrop to the activities.

 

CHARITIES.

Taunton Carnival Committee puts in all the hard work organising the procession for two main purposes – to provide a spectacle in the town’s calendar of events and to raise money for local charities.

Marilyn House, Taunton Carnival chairman, said: “Our principal beneficiaries this year are Taunton Association for the Homeless, Guide Dogs for the Blind and Hope for Tomorrow (mobile cancer treatment unit).

"These are well known in the town and surrounding area and we are confident that people will wish to support them.

"They are included in our daytime activities on Castle Green so come along and find out more about them.

“During the evening procession there will be dozens of official collectors on the ground, so please empty your pockets and give them a busy and successful night.

"The reward for performers and event organisers alike is to see all the collecting tins full and piles of coins on the lorries.

"Show your appreciation by getting rid of all that loose change you’ve been keeping since last October.”

Treasurer Roz Swinburne said: “If everyone put £1 or 50p coins into the collection we’d have a wonderful year.

“Of course we don’t mind what coins or notes come our way but we do need a lot of them please. We’re happy if it takes us all day Sunday to count it all.”

 

ROAD CLOSURES AND TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS.

Castle Street will be closed to traffic between the entrance to Tangier and Castle Street car parks as will Tangier Way down to Lidl's car park from 2pm to allow all the entries to assemble and get ready for the evening’s show.

Access to Tesco and Lidl will not be affected, but Enfield car park will be closed all day.

The town centre will be closed at 6.30pm so the procession route can be cleared of traffic before the crowds move in to line the pavements.

Through traffic is directed away from the centre to keep it moving and to keep a clear access to Musgrove Park Hospital.

Two diversions keep traffic moving around the outside – from the east along Bridgwater Road, Ilminster Road and Chestnut Drive; and from the west using Park Street, The Crescent, Mary Street, South Road and Chestnut Drive or Silk Mills Road, Greenway Road and Priorswood Road.

No vehicles will be able to leave Wood Street, Yarde Place, Haydon Road or Victoria Gate on to the route while the procession is taking place, between 6.30pm and around 9pm.

There will be an alternative route out of the Wood Street area via Cleveland Street and French Weir Recreation Ground.

 

SAFETY.

The Carnival Committee works closely with the emergency services to make sure everything on and off the procession route runs smoothly on the night.

There are marshals all along the route to keep an eye on spectators and make sure the procession passes safely.

These are closely supported by local police, with St John Ambulance crews from across Somerset around the route in case of accidents to participants or spectators.

Senior staff from the emergency services and other agencies come together with the organisers in a joint Control Room at Taunton Police Station where they are ready to co-ordinate action should anything unforeseen happen.

 

THANKS.

Planning the carnival is a round-the-clock activity for the committee, with much of the work behind the scenes.

Carnival secretary John Lewis said: “Every year is different and brings its own challenges.

"We meet regularly with the police, the county and borough councils to make sure everything is organised and recorded well in advance.

"This gives us a safe platform for all the clubs and individuals who spend many hours to bring the spectacle to life on the night.

"I’d like to thank all of them and all the volunteers who are out there on Saturday evening.

“Once again the Performing Rights Society has helped keep costs down by waiving a large part of the copyright fees due for musical entertainment.

“Our ambition is always to give to our charities everything we collect on Saturday plus a little bit more.

"Inevitably costs go up every year for the background things like insurance, traffic management and health and safety.

"Carnival is not a cheap event to put on and the committee organises marathon and half marathon and 10k road races earlier in the year to bring in the money we need.

"We’ve had sponsorship and support from lots of local companies over the years for many of our activities. Without them none of this would happen.

"What we need to cap it all now is good weather and full collecting tins this weekend."

For any other information on the day’s events, or if you want to help in any way, contact Marilyn House on 01823-289395 (e-mail mail@marilynhouse.co.uk) or John Lewis on 01823-283892 (e-mail jsilewis@btinternet.com)