Weston Carnival

The next Weston Carnival is on Friday, November 8, 2024.

People come from all over the country to see the Weston-super-Mare carnival. It is the west country’s answer to the Rio Carnival. It features huge and extravagantly-decorated carts with thousands of bright lights on, putting on an exciting must-see FREE procession for thousands of spectators.

The carts – some costing up to £25,000 to create and measuring more than 100ft long – form one of the biggest and most spectacular illuminated parades in the world.
If you haven’t seen the carnival before, make sure you do because you’re in for a real treat. It’s something of a hidden secret but once you’re in the know you will want to keep on coming back and introduce your friends to it. You do literally have to see it to believe it.

The rivalry between the carnival clubs is fierce and the competition to be the best is intense. The clubs spend 12 months creating their floats in hideaway barns under a veil of secrecy in a bid to outdo each other's creations - and the result is a spectacular must-see carnival. Alongside the huge floats there are also marching bands, fancy dress walkers and entertainers parading through the town. 

As well as Weston-super-Mare, the Somerset carnival scene takes in the local towns of Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Glastonbury, North Petherton, Shepton Mallet and Wells.

The event is free to watch but you will need to book accommodation early as people come from all over the country to watch it. 

Here's the route map for the 2023 procession. The parade starts at 7pm from the Locking Road car park. The last float is anticipated to come through the finish point at Pirate Golf on the seafront at around 9.30pm. We will update you nearer the time if the 2024 route is subject to changes.

Weston-super-Mare Carnival Route

Above is the route map for the 2024 procession. The parade starts at 7pm from the Locking Road car park. The last float is anticipated to come through the finish point at Pirate Golf on the seafront at around 9.30pm. We will update you nearer the time if the 2024 route is subject to changes.

Weston Carnival winners

Competition is fierce to be the best carnival float. The Ramblers Carnival Club took the 2023 crown with this extravagant Trawlermen creation.

Getting here for the Weston Carnival

Road closures are in place from 5.30pm and car parks get busy early. Weston Railway station is within easy walking distance of the start and the procession route. The last train from Weston to Taunton is at 23:40 https://www.thetrainline.com/book/results... and the last train to Bristol Temple Meads is at  23:41. The final train Weston to Worle departs at 23:13.

Apart from the grandstand, there is no dedicated special viewing areas for the disabled but the whole route is accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The Beach Lawns will have a dedicated disabled parking area at the end closest to town available on a first come first served basis. what3words ///filled.type.club

Here below is information about parking as produced by Weston Carnival's extremely helpful Facebook page. 

Parking at Weston Carnival

Below are two lists of car parks, the first not impacted by the road closures, where there are uninterrupted routes out of town e.g the old toll road or if you park on the beach lawns head out towards the hospital roundabout etc.

The second list are car parks where you will need to arrive before the road closures starting at 1630 and will not be able to leave until approx 2200 when the road closures are lifted.

Trains - you could park at Worle or Milton stations and have a short hop down to Weston Station (last train from Weston southbound is 2340 calling at Highbridge, Bridgwater, Taunton, Exeter, and northbound is 2341 calling at Yatton and Bristol)

All car parks have disabled spaces, the closest carpark to the parade is Grove Park. There will be a designated area on the beach lawns parking closest to the end of the parade for blue badge holders. All on a first come first served basis.

Hildesheim Bridge will be closed, do not park on it, For safety and security your vehicle could be removed.

Tesco carpark will NOT be open

There is no overnight camping in any of the carparks.

You could try www.justpark.com and see if there are any driveway spaces you can book.

Campervans - We do not have a dedicated area for campervan parking.

Route viewing from cars - there is nowhere along the route where you can park and see the parade.

Google maps can give you walk times from parking to where you choose to watch the parade from.

Disabled Parking - All carparks are council carparks with designated disabled spaces, this are on a first come first served basis. The First area of the beach lawns will be reserved for blue badge holders again on a first come first served basis, the gate is at what3words ///tokens.blues.third  The closest carpark to the parade is Grove Park. There will be a designated area on the beach lawns parking closest to the end of the parade for blue badge holders. All on a first come first served basis.

Beach Lawns Wet Weather Plan

If the beach lawns are not allowed to be used because they are too wet, the wet weather plan is to use the Marine Parade. Make your way to the marine parade entrance at the Old Hospital / Royal Sands end - what3words ///voters.papers.vent and you can pay on entry and be directed to your space.

Carparks NOT impacted by road closures

- Beach Lawns, Beach Rd, cost £10 Weston-super-Mare BS23 1BH

what3words ///gently.beam.alone

- Maderia Carpark South Rd, Weston-super-Mare BS23

what3words ///lock.danger.doctor

- Melrose Carpark 30 Knightstone Rd, Weston-super-Mare BS23 2AW

what3words ///drips.slope.brings

- Hampton Carpark, Weston-super-Mare BS23 2DU

what3words ///truly.random.feast

- Grove Park, Weston-super-Mare BS23 2AF

what3words ///crunch.answer.rises

Carparks IMPACTED by road closures - locked in until after road closures and arrive before 1630 Road closures

- NCP Carpark, 4a High St, Weston-super-Mare BS23 1JF

what3words ///bumps.claim.vivid

- Carlton Street Car Park 12 Carlton St, Weston-super-Mare BS23 1UA

///breed.early.tigers

- Soverign Centre Salisbury Terrace, Weston-super-Mare BS23 1AH

///view.rate.shark

Weston-super-Mare Carnival Accommodation

Enjoy carnival to the max by booking accommodation as well. It's worth moving quickly on this though as it tends to sell out fast. Keep an eye on the Visit Weston Facebok page www.facebook.com/visitweston  for details of late availability or cancellations. There are four hotels on the carnival route. They are: The Sandringham Hotel, The Royal Hotel, The Royal Grosvenor Hotel and The Cabot Court Hotel.

Weston Carnival Road Closures

These town centre roads will be closed at 5:30pm – except for Francis Fox Road, which will close from 3:30pm.
They need to be vehicle-free for the carnival to take place.
Carlton Street - for its full extent
Alexander Parade - for its full extent
Alfred Street - for its full extent
Knightstone Road - from South Road to Royal Parade
Royal Parade - from Knightstone Road to Marine Parade
Locking Road - from Ashcombe Road to Alfred Street
Regent Street - from High Street to Locking Road
Walliscote Road - from Regent Street to Oxford Street
Walliscote Grove Road - from Carlton Street to Walliscote Road
Oxford Street - from Walliscote Road to Gloucester Street
Marine Parade - for its full extent
Beach Road - from Oxford Street to outside the Grand Atlantic
Beach Road - from the junction with Quantock Road to the junction with Clarence Road South
Station Road - for its full extent
Camden Terrace - for its full extent
Little George Street - 50m from the junction with Locking Road
Meadow Street - for its full extent
Alma Street - for its full extent
Oxford Street - or its full extent
Waterloo Street - or its full extent
Cross Street - for its full extent
Back Street - for its full extent
Orchard Place - for its full extent
Alfred Court - for its full extent
North Street - for its full extent
Orchard Street - for its full extent
Prospect Place - for its full extent
Hans Price Close - for its full extent
Hopkins Street - for its full extent
Palmer Street - for its full extent
Poplar Place - for its full extent
Regent Street - from Locking Road to High Street
Jubilee Road - for 50m from Locking Road
Richmond Street - from Marine Parade to York Street
Lower Church Road - from South Terrace to Knightstone Road
Longton Grove Road - from Boulevard to Worthy Place
Victoria Quadrant - from Boulevard to Worthy lane
Boulevard - from Stafford Place to Waterloo Street
South Parade - for its full extent
West Street - South Parade to Wadham Street
Francis Fox Road - for its full extent
both carriageways closed from 15:30PM to 23:30PM on Friday 10 November
Palmer Row - from Palmer Street to Orchard Street
Hildesheim Bridge 

Let the train take the strain

Extra trains are usually put on for the event. We will be posting the last train times as soon as we have them confirmed. Trains - you could park at Worle or Milton stations and have a short hop down to Weston Station (last train from Weston southbound is 2340 calling at Highbridge, Bridgwater, Taunton, Exeter, and northbound is 2341 calling at Yatton and Bristol)

Accessibility

The parade route is accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters and as such there are no specifically designated viewing areas. And there are no vehicular access viewpoints along the procession course.The closest car parking to the route is at Grove Park.The Beach lawns will have a dedicated disabled parking area at the end closest to town available on a first come first served basis. what3words ///filled.type.club   (with thanks to the carnival's super helpful pinned facebook post for this information so please keep checking in with them for the very latest information in this area.)

Grandstand seating 

Grandstand seating and hospitality pods which seat up to ten guests are available for the 2024 carnival. The grandstand is priced at £25 per person and occupy a prime position. The pods are £550 to book exclusively or £55 per person. To find out more click here