Countdown to Exeter Carnival begins
Published: 16 November 2022
The countdown has begun until this year’s Exeter Carnival fills the city’s streets with colour, joy and vibrancy on Saturday 26 November.
There’s just days to go now until the big event returns to Exeter after an absence of some 24 years.
The Carnival procession begins at 6pm from the bottom of South Street and will parade up South Street, turning right onto High Street, into Sidwell Street and all the way up to the Odeon roundabout.
Once at the roundabout it will return back into Sidwell Street and finish at the junction with High Street and Paris Street.
Ann Hunter, BID Manager at InExeter, the Business Improvement District and organisers of Exeter Carnival, said: “The return of Exeter Carnival following 24 years is a historic day for the city and is one we should all celebrate.”
One of the highlights of this year’s Carnival will be the inclusion of the Jubilation Cart, a giant and colourful float used in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant parade in London this summer.
Exeter will be the only carnival outside Somerset where the Jubilation Cart will be involved.
Joining Jubilation will be carnival clubs from the South Somerset Federation, East Devon and South Devon circuits alongside local entries from groups and organisations in Exeter.
Entries visitors can experience at Exeter Carnival include Harlequin Carnival Club who attended the first Exeter Carnival in 1977. Local choir ‘Big Noise Chorus’ have also entered and will be performing on a bus provided by travel sponsor Stagecoach.
The Jubilation Cart reflects the various regal elements of the monarchy including the royal crest, four revolving crowns, 12 moving Beefeaters and eight royal carriages. There are 40 engineered moving parts, 18 spectacularly crafted models, 4,000+ lights and additional spotlights with 36 individual speakers powered by 43.5 kilowatts. The build itself used 180 sheets of 12mm plywood, over 20,000 wood screws and 200 litres of environmentally friendly water-based paint to decorate the cart.
Carnival is something that a whole generation has missed in Exeter and the city will be lit up spectacularly on 26 November.
No matter where people watch the carnival they will see all of the parade. Those spectating on Sidwell Street will get the chance to see the parade pass twice, as the carnival procession will parade up then turn around to parade back along Sidwell Street. InExeter encourage people to spread out across the route to get a great view of the parade.
For more information and all updates please visit www.exetercarnival.com.