North Petherton Carnival 2024: Road closures, route and car parking information
Carnivals continue to roll around and on Saturday night, it is the turn of North Petherton. North Petherton Carnival is one of the seven illuminated carnivals of the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival Association circuit annually held in the month of November. If you are still in the carnival mood after Bridgwater Carnival[1] and Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea Carnival and Weston-super-Mare – or just couldn’t attend any of the first three processions, then fear not.
The North Petherton incarnation rolls into town on Saturday night (November 9) with entries from all over Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Wiltshire taking part. Here is everything you need to know about this year’s carnival.
What exactly is the North Petherton Carnival?
The North Petherton Carnival is an annual event full of brightly lit carts, colourful performers and talented acts. Dating from as early as 1951, spectators can expect at least dozens of illuminated carts – each up to 30 metres long – packed with lights and dancers performing as well as musical acts.
The carts involved include popular children’s books and films, historical moments, places.The carnival’s organisers encourage people to donate to support the event’s multiple charities.
When will it start?
According to the official website, this year’s main procession starting at 7pm and will end roughly around 10:30pm.
What route do the carts take?
Thankfully the carnival website has a helpful map outlining the route.
The start of procession will start at 7pm at North Petherton Rugby Club before entering the A38 and following Taunton Road, Fore Street, Bridgwater Road and finishes at Market Car Park.
Where can I park?
There is limited car parking options in North Petherton with Huntworth Roundabout & Junction 24 of the M5 motorway your best bet. Car Parking – Various sites including North Petherton Ruby Club (A38 near to the start) and the Sedgemoor Auction / Market Centre off the A38 Bridgwater Road and Moto Services (Huntworth side, north side by finish). There is no specific parking for the less able, please use the available car parks, which have links to the procession route.
Motorhome parking is available in the vehicle parks such as Market Car Park, there is limited motorhome parking available to the North Petherton Bowling Club, North Petherton Rugby Club and Moto Services. Be careful if you use any other areas for parking as many of the hotel or business car parks have ANPR controlled parking and are rigorously enforced by the operators if a non authorised vehicle is parked in their car park. Please do not park on the route, motorway or slip roads or between the line up area and the start of the route.
Parking is also available at Market Car Park and North Petherton Bowling Club.
What roads will be closed?
The A38 has a contraflow put in place on the Friday evening from about 20:00 onwards between Thurloxton Fruit Farm and the Shearston turning (usually a dual carriageway), for the overnight storage of the participant’s magnificent mounted creations. They also are allowed to close Moon Lane (except for access for the residents) to safely store some of the smaller spectacular floats. There will be Clearway no stopping / parking orders in force for the route and some local roads in North Petherton, which will be enforced by Somerset Council contractors.
Please park with considerations for the residents and legally, ideally in one of the Carnival Car Parks. The main road closures on the A38 are put in place at 1730 hours on the Saturday evening and will remain in place until it is safe to re open the route, probably by 2300 most will have been lifted, but please be patient if the route you wish to use is still closed, it’s for the safety of all concerned, including you. Following the issues at the Carnival in 2022, there will be LIMITED ACCESS beyond the Huntworth Roundabout for parking at the Sedgemoor Auction / Market Centre ONLY once the roundabout is closed.
Alternative parking at Moto Services, Huntworth are signed. So the A38 between Walford Cross and Huntworth Roundabout is closed at 1730 to enable the procession formation to progress safely through the Town. So ensure that if you wish to park at the Rugby Club you are there in plenty of time before the A38 is closed.
The main dispersal area on the A38 between the Huntworth roundabout and the Showground roundabout closes at about 20:00 on the Saturday evening and is often the last stretch of road to re-open usually between 2300 and midnight. The walking entry dispersal area is on Wilstock Way up to the Widgeon Road junction and this will close at 1730 on the Saturday evening to become a sterile area. They hope to allow vehicles to travel eastbound from Wilstock/Stockmoor to Huntworth Roundabout until approximately 1945, as long as it is safe to do.
This may help to relieve some issues experienced in 2023 of non residents’ vehicles moving through Stockmoor estate trying to access the A38.
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References
- ^ Bridgwater Carnival (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Somerset Live (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ click this link and select ‘Join Community’. (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ Somerset Live (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Privacy Notice. (www.reachplc.com)
- ^ Click here to join our WhatsApp community. (chat.whatsapp.com)