Glastonbury Carnival

The Glastonbury Carnival is one of the big events each year here in this town, held in mid-November.

It was started in the 1870s in connection with Guy Fawkes celebrations (which celebrated the failed attempt of Robert Catesby, Guy Fawkes and others to kill king James I and parliament in 1605, seeking to restore Catholic rule in England).

Nowadays it is nothing like what it once was - though there is still a remnant in the form of individuals who dress up elaborately as part of the carnival. Nowadays the carnival floats are big, often high-tech rigs towed by disguised tractors and pulling enormous generators to power the thousands of light-bulbs lighting the floats, and often with hard-pumping disco music.

Carnivals of this kind are quite unique to Somerset. The floats are built by carnival clubs from Glastonbury, Bridgwater, Wells and other surrounding towns and villages, often on farms and by farmers and village volunteers. The carnival clubs do this voluntarily, raising their own funds locally to build the floats.

There are other carnivals in neighbouring Somerset towns, though Glastonbury, with Bridgwater, is the biggest. At each carnival there are collections to raise money for charities.

The Carnival takes over the town for one day, starting at around 7.30 in the evening. Thousands of people pour in from near and far, traffic is closed off, and the town reeks of hot dog stands and outdoor snack bars. People line the streets, all wrapped up against the cold, and the Carnival floats weave through town.

It's quite a close-and-friendly affair. Apart from crowds in the streets, people hold parties in houses along the route and the pubs fill up after the event. Kids love it - there's a fairyland element to it, even though the high-volume music makes it a little, shall we say, modern!

Floats follow themes ranging from spiritual-aspirational themes - in 2005 Indian motifs were noticeable, and in previous years we've seen everything from angels to King Arthur - to devilish themes about Halloween or Hell, through to cameos with rich period costumes, or whatever the vivid imaginations of the carnival clubs dish up.

There is intense competition between clubs, even involving spying and sabotage.

But it's all done by amateurs, out of fun and goodwill (we hope!). Standards have grown high over the years. Floats are judged on their artwork, technicalities, the dancing and cameos involved and various other factors - it's all quite a developed art.

During the day, the town fills up. The main roads are diverted and closed, the Tor is intensively climbed and the cafes are full. All sorts of sellers appear on the streets, selling funny hats and sparkly electronic gizmos. A general whiff of beefburgers and hot dogs creeps across the town - with local vegetarians gritting their teeth.

By the evening the streets are crowded and people start sitting on camp chairs along the streets. Lots of children, all wrapped up, trail goggle-eyed through the crowds. The Carnival frequently starts late, because of a float-jam or technical hitches, but people are always patient.

Then the thumping begins as a drum band parades up the streets, followed by a procession of floats with sounds systems blaring. It's all rather phantasmagorial. Yet some of the floats are remarkable, and the work put into them is impressive. Even the amateurish ones clearly have a lot of heart and soul put into them.

The walking exhibits - individuals young and old dressed in fantastic costumes - though dwarfed by the big floats, are beautiful and imaginative works of needlework and construction.

If you think the 'hippies' of Glastonbury are bizarre and weird, try the Carnival, which doesn't involve them at all! Their moment of madness comes with the Glastonbury Festival. Both are just two of the many annual events held in Glastonbury.

These carnivals are unique. Not to be confused with carnivals in Rio or Notting Hill Gate, they're worth a try, even if only as an interesting anthropological experience!

Visit the official Carnival site at www.glastonburycarnival.co.uk