SOMERSET’S world famous Guy Fawkes Carnival circuit is under way, with its first outing on Saturday 1st November at Bridgwater.

The spectacular, colourful, noisy and inventive carts are devised and built over 11 months of the year, ready to be unveiled to their astonished and delighted audiences filling the streets of the eight towns, this year until 15th November.

If you want a good vantage point, arrive early and remember all those ROAD CLOSED and DIVERSION signs you might meet en route, and the pressure for car parking.

On Monday 3rd November the carnival is at Burnham on Sea, starting at 7.30pm.
On Friday 7th November there is a 7pm start at Weston-super-Mare, and the same time starts the Saturday 8th November at North Petherton. Midsomer Norton Carnival sets off at 7.30pm on Monday 10th November, and on Wednesday 12th November it’s time for Shepton Mallet’s big procession, starting at 7.30pm. The centre of Wells is filled with carnival sights and sounds from 7pm on Friday 14th November and the grand finale is, as always, at Glastonbury, this year on Saturday 15th November from 6.45pm.

Photograph from a previous carnival by Ian Sumner.