A calvacade of lights and colour will filled the streets of Weston-super-Mare for the town’s annual carnival last night (Friday, November 9).
Crowds of tens of thousands lined the streets of the seaside resort last night for the procession – the biggest illuminated parade in Europe.
This year’s parade featured around 120 entries, including illuminated floats, marching bands, fancy dress walkers and entertainers.
The procession started from Locking Road before heading down Alfred Street and onto the Boulevard before making its way along the seafront before finishing outside the town hall.
The carnival is an annual tradition dating back to 1871 and is part of the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival Association which began after the gunpowder plot of 1605.
The parade begins in Bridgwater, the home of carnival, on the first Saturday in November, which then proceeds into Burnham, Weston, North Petherton, Shepton Mallet, Wells and finally Glastonbury ending in mid-November.
The earliest Weston carnivals began at Knightstone Island before visiting many streets in the town.
The parade – which used to feature huskies, oxen and horses - ended at the beach where bonfires were lit and effigies burned.
This year people were able to sit and watch the carnival in a new covered seating area.
The carnival costs an estimated £35,000 a year to put on.
Collectors rattle buckets along the route with the money raised from the collection and the sale of the programmes going to local charities.
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