Bridgwater Carnival: What it is like to build a carnival cart


The countdown is very much on to Bridgwater Carnival. As always, the epic event is expected to attract more than 100,000 people to Bridgwater from around the West County, Britain and abroad.

Carnival clubs around Somerset are hard at work preparing their vehicles for carnival night. Dozens of illuminated carts - each up to 30 metres long - packed with lights and dancers will line the streets on November 2.

But what is it actually like to build a carnival cart, and how much hard work (a lot) goes into ensuring the carts are ready to take to the streets. Back in 2018, Somerset Live visited Marketeers Carnival Club to see what it is like to build a cart for the event - and this is what they told us

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Photos like this show the scale of the project inside Marketeers CC's shed
Photos like this show the scale of the project inside Marketeers CC's shed

The group chose a Dickensian theme, depicting a typical street in Victorian London, featuring workhouses, homes, shops and a rotating St Paul's Cathedral.

More than 30 crew members dressed in Victorian clothing were on board dancing and singing along to Consider Yourself from Oliver Twist. Carnival member, Ian Webber, said the preparations for carnival start almost immediately after the previous Bridgwater Carnival.

He said: "We normally start straight after carnival night in November. By Christmas we are taking it down, getting rid of all of the wood, some steel comes off and we have committee meetings and idea meetings so by March we know what we are doing. Every Monday and Wednesday and weekend is 'cart night' when we come down and start working on the cart.

Two members attaching a speaker to the cart. The cart will play Consider Yourself with around 35-37 performers on board singing and dancing along
Two members attaching a speaker to the cart. The cart will play Consider Yourself with around 35-37 performers on board singing and dancing along

"As the year goes on, it gradually builds and builds until sort of September time, we are flat out. Everyone is down here all of the time doing their bits and bobs."

Walking around the large vehicle, you begin to understand the complexity and clever engineering involved. The cart is pulled by a HGV engine with a generator on board to power its moving parts and thousands of LED lights. The vehicle is like a giant jigsaw where props and features are built in areas of the workshop and then installed onto its framework.

Watch the video above to look inside the shed and witness the scale of the construction.

Ian added: "Each section on the cart is different. The front section of the main chassis is the work house, the middle section will be shops, so you have a butchers, bakers and then another workhouse. So it repeats on the other side."

Underneath Marketeer's large cart
Underneath Marketeer's large cart

Ian described it as a "very bouncy and colourful cart" and hoped people were blown away by its level of detail and unique style.

The self-employed plasterer said to build and place the vehicle at Bridgwater Carnival costs around £20,000 due to insurance costs, shed's maintenance as well as gas and electric bills.

Wooden props such as chimneys, cobblestones, bars and barrels are ready to be attached to the cart. Some of the props contain LED lights
Wooden props such as chimneys, cobblestones, bars and barrels are ready to be attached to the cart. Some of the props contain LED lights

The money comes from donations, sponsorship deals and members paying annual memberships.

Ian said he personally got involved with Marketeers CC because he enjoys carnival and is now fully committed" to the club. "I started off with props for the first three or four years", he said.

Sections of the cart are already covered while some props are ready to be attached to the cart
Sections of the cart are already covered while some props are ready to be attached to the cart

"Then I made the decision to become a VP, which is a sub member where you can do what you can when you can. I enjoyed it so much that year that I decided to become a full member and that's when you start having to do everything!"

With a few days until Bridgwater Carnival, Ian believes the cart will be ready. He said: "It will be a big push and there's going to be some late nights and some failing out, tears, cuts and blood along the way as well and that's not from arguing, that's from working!

"It will get done and then on Sunday we have what we called 'Black Sunday' where we all go out drinking and we all celebrate what we've achieved."

Marketeers Carnival Club's Consider Yourself cart swept awards across the carnival circuit in 2018
Marketeers Carnival Club's Consider Yourself cart swept awards across the carnival circuit in 2018 -Credit:Reach/Western Daily Press

The then 46-year-old said he, and others, takes part in carnival because he feels "this is my bit towards charity".

He added: "Everything we make on procession goes to charity. What we get at Bridgwater Carnival is roughly £20,000-25,000.

"The charities get that and we go to the six other carnivals and donate to their own charities. I feel that's our little bit for doing something for other people. We enjoy what we do, too."

Marketers Carnival Club went on to win the prestigious Ker Cup at Bridgwater Carnival as well other awards across the Somerset carnival circuit in 2018.