Dozens of colourful illuminated floats will be taking part in tonight’s 65th annual Highbridge and Burnham Carnival, which looks set to attract large crowds of spectators.
The weather for tonight’s procession, which starts at 7.30pm, should be dry and relatively mild, with temperatures of 11°C, further boosting the crowd numbers.
Carnival Chairman Phil New, pictured right with programme sellers yesterday, told Burnham-On-Sea.com that everything is in place for a great event.
“It promises to be a super evening – we have 90 entries in total, 50 of which are carts. There are some really excellent carts this year and it should be a great night,” he said.
This year’s Carnival Queen, Jenna Picton, and her princesses, Burnham girls Rachael Nicol and Lily Kilduff, will lead the parade.
The event will start in Love Lane, near the town’s Tesco supermarket, and will then wend its way along Love Lane, onto Manor Road, before travelling along the High Street and finishing in Marine Drive.
Crowds will be lining the route to watch the spectacle – and some have already been taking a first look at the carts, which are parked up along Burnham’s Queen’s Drive and the Frank Foley Parkway, as pictured top.
Among the local entries is Burnham’s Hillview Club with its colourful Hollywood Hotel float, pictured below, which is sure to attract big cheers on its home carnival circuit. Th entry has already won second place in its category at Bridgwater, Weston and North Petherton.
Burnham’s emergency services, including Burnham Coastguard, BARB and the town’s fire service, will taking part in the procession near the front of the parade.
Several road closures will swing into operation during the carnival.
Roads closed until 1am on Tuesday are Queens Drive (B3140), from Stoddens Lane to the Tesco’s roundabout, and the Frank Foley Parkway between both entrances to Ben Travers Way.
And roads closed from 6.30pm this evening until 1am on Tuesday are Love Lane (Hawley Way to Frank Foley), Love Lane (Frank Foley to Manor Road), Manor Road, Victoria Street, High Street, Marine Drive, Berrow Road (from Sea View Road to Manor Road), Highbridge Road, Regent Street, Chapel Street, Cross Street, Adam Street and South Street.
Roads in Highbridge closed from 7.30pm are Church Road – the link between Church Street and Burnham Road, and the main A38 (Isleport roundabout to Burnham Moor Road.
RELATED LINKS:
Burnham-On-Sea Carnival 2012
