| 2012 Below are several events taking place at the Bath & West Show Ground at Shepton Mallet. We are only 30 mins / 20 miles away so ideally situated. West Somerset Railway (WSR) contact 01643 704996) |
|
May
2012 |
19th - LEG Car Boot Sale, Cocklemoor, Langport 9am 19th - Gardeners Club Plant Sale, The Buttercross, Somerton from 10am 26th - LEG Car Boot Sale, Cocklemoor, Langport 9am 27th - Country Fayre & Dog Show @ Stoke St Gregory Playing field in conjunction with St Giles rescue ctr http://www.stgileskennels.co.uk/country-fair-and-dog-show_6526.htm 30th May - 2nd June - Royal bath & West Show, Shepton Mallet |
June
2012 |
1st - Ladies Day at the Bath & West, Shepton Mallet 2nd Somerton's Festival Band, Market Square, Somerton 2nd - 4th Tour of Wessex Cycle event, Somerton 3rd - Guided History Walk, Stacey's Court Car Park, Langport 11am start. A guided walk of The Port, Westover and Great Bow Wharf. Maximum of 12 people. £4.00 per person payable at start of walk 3rd - Jubilee Street Party and Disco at Bowdens Crest 4th & 5th - Spring Bank Holiday - date change due to Queens Jubilee 9th - Langport Craft Fayre, The Angel, Langport. 10am to 4pm 9th & 10th Langport Walking Festival Weekend 17th - 8th Green Scythe Festival @ Thorney Lakes, Muchelney, Langport - 11am to 11pm (TA10 0DW) http://www.thescytheshop.co.uk/festival.html 23rd - Yeovilton Air Day, Yeovilton |
July
2012 |
14th Festival Market Day, the Square, Somerton 10am - 4pm 21st Somerton Horse Show - www.somertonhorseshow.com starting at 10am |
August
2012 |
25th Somerton Gardeners Clubs Flower Show, Monteclefe School 2-4pm 26th Battle Sedgemore Marathon, Langport 27th Autumn Bank Holiday Monday |
Sept
2012 |
8th S.L.A.M.M.S Cross country Marathon - start and finish Bowdens 15th Craft Fayre, Parish Rooms, Somerton 10am start |
Oct
2012 |
BAR & KITCHEN CLOSED 6th October 2012 until 25th October INCLUSIVE - Re-open Friday 26th October 2012 |
Somerset Carnivals Bridgwater Carnival was the first carnival to take place & is now the biggest, attracting over 100,000 people to the event each year. It dates back to 1605 when Guy Fawkes infamously tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. The annual event is always the first friday after Bonfire Night. However, this is a recent change it used to be on Thursdays. This brought about an end to a carnival tradition - 'Black Friday', whereby participants celebrated their hard work (with the consumption of alcohol) the day after the carnival. Many carnivals are struggling to survive as a lot of money is needed to keep them going. Strict health & safety regulations have added to the cost. The original Bridgwater celebrations featured a large bonfire built out of a large wooden boat to which around 100 tar barrels were set alight at the Cornhill. The tradition was stopped however due to the lack of old wooden boats to burn and because a number of good boats were thrown onto the fire and burned by revellers. Clubs spend all year working on their carts, Effigies or 'guys' representing the gunpowder plot instigators were added to the fire by local groups of people known as 'gangs'. This turned into a procession which became more elaborate over the years: featuring costumes & music until this became a key feature of the event. Today, carnivals feature a parade of floats which are called carts and have people called 'masqueraders' who dance on them. They are large and elaborate and are built by local clubs - individually funded by charitable donations and sponsorship. The carts are built in members' free time on a voluntary basis and can cost around £20,000+. They are based on themes such as songs, Disney Characters and popular books. They are driven by tractors and require a large generator to provide enough power to light up the carts. Bridgwater Carnival is famous for 'squibbing' which is when fireworks are held aloft on the end of a long wooden handle called a 'cosh'. The squibs give off sparks like a roman candle. They used to end with a loud bang, however Health & Safety concerns have meant this does not happen anymore. |
|
Nov
2012 |
PLEASE NOTE NEW DATES FOR 2012 CARNIVALS Saturday 3rd - Bridgwater Friday 9th - Weston Super Mare Saturday 10th - North Petherton Monday 12th - Highbridge & Burnham Wednesday 14th - Shepton Mallet Friday 16th - Wells Saturday 17th - Glastonbury Sat 24th - Christmas Craft Fair, Square & Parish Rooms 10am - 4pm, Somerton |
Dec
2012 |
see here for information on Christmas 2012 |
Bowdens Crest Caravan & Camping Park, Bowdens, Langport, Somerset TA10 0DD
Telephone No. 01458 250553 - office hours 9am to 8pm - Email - bowcrest@btconnect.com