Every year Bridgwater hosts the first winter carnival on the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival circuit, and is regarded by many as the world's largest illuminated parade.

Ever since 1605, the people of Bridgwater have celebrated the failure of Guy Fawkes to blow up the Houses of Parliament in a unique and spectacular way.

The carnival carts which take part in the popular procession are massive – the largest being more than 30 metres long, containing more than 25,000 light bulbs and powered by a 1.2 megawatt generator. Thousands of hours of work go into their construction by members of carnival clubs who give their time freely. Accompanying these decorated carts are groups and individual masqueraders on foot, samba bands and majorettes, all whom bring their own carnival flavour to the proceedings.

The entire parade takes over two hours to pass any one place on the 2½ mile route, and thousands of people from all corners of the country descend upon Bridgwater – 'the home of carnival' to watch this exciting show.

The celebrations are brought to a dramatic finale with an amazing firework display in the centre of the town, known locally as the squibbing. Here 150 squibbers line the High Street and ignite their squibs which are then held above their heads on specially made coshes.

This year's carnival is on Friday, November 5, and the procession starts promptly at 7pm. A curtain raiser grand firework display, sponsored by Bridgwater Town Council, will officially launch the carnival celebrations on Thursday 4 November, 7pm, at St Matthew's Field, Bridgwater.

Away from the razzmatazz and spectacle of the carnival celebrations, the activities of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival support charities and groups in and around the local area all year around. Even though last year's street collection of £24,284 was the lowest since 2002, the carnival committee still managed to donate more than £18,000 to local charities. Over the last ten years, more than £265,000 has been collected at the carnival and shared between local charities and Bridgwater Carnival.

For the latest news and more information on Bridgwater Carnival, visit www.bridgwatercarnival.org.uk.