The organisers of Highbridge and Burnham-On-Sea Carnival have this week unveiled the route of a replacement walking parade which is set to be held this November due to the pandemic.
The Grand Costume Parade will take place through Burnham-On-Sea on Monday November 8th, starting at 7pm, dedicated to local key workers, but there will not be the normal carnival carts, as we reported here.
A brand new, shorter route for the parade has been announced which will start and finish in Marine Drive.
Phil New, Chairman, Highbridge & Burnham-On-Sea Carnival Committee, pictured below, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We have chosen a slightly shorter route this year in a more residential area. This is mainly so we cause a lot less disruption to our local residents. No carts means not having to shut the roads off days before. The roads we do need to close will be no more than a maximum of two hours before or after the parade.”
New shorter route for carnival parade
“The Parade will start and finish this year at the Haven Burnham Holiday Village entrance with thanks to the park’s Michael Beck General Manager and Matt Wyatt. This will keep all traffic as normal during the day.”
“The route of the parade will go from the campsite out onto Marine Drive by the Lighthouse Inn, turn right down to the Esso Garage on Burnham Road, left onto the roundabout, along Burnham Road past the Police Station, along Highbridge Road past the Lighthouse Inn, then left into Abingdon Street, up to the town centre, then left and left again, down Old Station Approach, and back to the Haven Burnham Holiday Village.”
He adds: “We will be having some outside refreshments/catering wagons along the route. Disabled parking will again be available, and as it is a walking parade we are suggesting a donation of £10 this year. It will again be along by Marine Drive.”
Phil adds: “We are dedicating this year’s parade to all the main Key Workers – the ones who were right in the thick of it all, so NHS staff, Nurses, Doctors and Cleaners, including all carers from nursing and residential homes in the area, not forgetting the many volunteers that went shopping, collected prescriptions and did welfare checks. This is our town’s chance to show just how much we really did appreciate what they put themselves through to helps us all.”
“We will still need a bit of help to set this all in motion, so if anyone can help do a bit of marshalling or collecting for us or their favourite charity please do get in touch or just general help on the day.”
“There are so many unsung hero’s in this area and I feel this is the ideal time to know that what you have done in the last 2 years is very much appreciated.”
“So pass the word in your Hospitals and homes to take part. I lived in the thick of it for a while and I know what heroes there are in my family so I dedicate my bit of this parade towards them and their colleagues.”
Anyone who is hoping to take part in the parade as an entry, please contact Jan Paul 784607 or wottie05@aol.com for information on that. Enquiries, food outlets and disabled parking should go to Phil New on 780219 or dapman221@yahoo.co.uk
The event will be part of a Sedgemoor Masquerade Week taking place instead of the traditional illuminated carnival processions across Somerset which have been cancelled for a second year.
Sedgemoor Masquerade Week will feature a number of smaller events in our area. The week of events, launching on 31st October, has been pulled together by carnival committees across Sedgemoor – full details at the bottom of this page.
The annual carnival processions in Bridgwater and Burnham-On-Sea, which commemorate the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, were cancelled in March, due to the continuing impact of Covid.
Dave Croker, Chairman, Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee, adds: “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.”
Events during Sedgemoor Masquerade Week:
The special week will consist of the following events:
Sunday 31st October to Thursday 4th November: Variety Show, Bridgwater Town Hall
Presented by Bridgwater Gangs & Features Clubs, Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, and
Bridgwater Town Council. Performances start 3pm on Sunday and then 7pm on Monday to
Thursday. The tickets are limited and cost just £5, and can be purchased either in person from the Carnival Centre, or by telephone 01278 428220.
Friday 5th November: Bridgwater Firework Display, 7.30pm
St Matthew’s Field. Car parking on the field from 6pm – £5 per car with proceeds to the official carnival charity. A Fun Fair will also be present in St Matthew’s Field.
Saturday 6th November, Bridgwater Town Centre
2.30pm – Street entertainment begins
5.30pm – Grand Costume Parade, followed by simultaneous squibbing display
7pm – 2021 Virtual Carnival titled Through the Decades. The two hour live stream broadcast will feature 100 entries from Bridgwater Carnival processions held over the
past 40 years
Sunday 7th November: Burnham-On-Sea Grand Fireworks Display, 6.30pm
On The Esplanade organised by the Town Council – full details here
Monday 8th November: Burnham-On-Sea Grand Costume Parade, 7pm
A procession through Burnham-On-Sea featuring costume entries
