Carnival Entry Information

The entry window for taking part in our next Carnival opened on 1st July 2025, please follow this link and select the correct entry form for your style of entry – Entries | somerset-carnivals

All entries are at the discretion of our Carnival Committee. 

If you have any queries please contact our Entries Coordinator, Brian,

on his e-mail chairman@npgfcc.org.uk

Those considering building a cart are STRONGLY advised to read and follow the advice contained in the local Constabulary’s VSO information and guidance and the agreed Somerset County Carnival handbook which you can find by following this link;

Applying for a Vehicle Special Order for a carnival cart

This gives an outline of the law and advice in respect of vehicles and trailers being used during a carnival procession.

If you need to comply and don’t then we will not allow you to enter our procession.

The closing date for entries is 1st September 2025.

 

(By submitting an entry form you are agreeing to the conditions below) 

1. Competitive (Judged) classes are from 1 – 15. Other non-competitive classes are 16-19. Entries can only enter one class with exception of classes 14 & 15.​

2. All vehicles entering any of the County carnivals  must either comply with the current Road Traffic regulations, which includes the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (C&U) or, if outside of these regulations a Vehicle Special Order (VSO) must be obtained.
Full details can be found on the Avon and Somerset Police website at Applying for a Vehicle Special Order for a carnival | Avon and Somerset Police

3. All entrants must insure their vehicle(s) for use in a Carnival procession.

4. Person(s) driving mobility scooters, electric scooters and segways or any other type of vehicle as an entry or part of an entry must be entitled to be on the road for a carnival procession and have Insurance cover.

5. Entries take part in the procession at their own risk.

6. All entrants must have a minimum of £5 million public liability Insurance, for single walking entries they must liaise with the participating Carnival town who may be able to assist with the Insurance requirement at the Town’s discretion.

7. Masquerading (walking) entries must not exceed 30.5metres in length, and the height must be kept below 5 metres to avoid power and telephone cables. Props must not exceed 3.5metres in width.

8. By submitting an entry application, entrants are confirming that all necessary licences have been obtained and that the entry does not breach copyright, racial, discriminatory, offensive or decency issues.​

Any infringement is wholly the responsibility of the entrant, the carnival committee(s) will not accept any responsibility for any action taken by a third party for such an infringement against the entrant.
 

9. Carnival town committees reserve the right to refuse any entry which constitutes a health & safety risk, or of inappropriate or objectionable nature and likely to cause offence.

10. Carnival town committees reserve the right to postpone or cancel the whole or part of the event with no financial liability to entrants.

11. Carnival town committees reserve the right to refuse an entry, disqualify, withhold prize/appearance money at any time if entries are abusive, fail to follow instructions of marshals/officials, or do not abide by these Conditions of Entry.

12. A Safeguarding policy is required for all entrants who have participants under the age of 18 or vulnerable adults in their care, unless supervised by their parent or legal guardian.

13. All entrants in the carnival must be 5 years or over.

14. All ground crew must be 18 years of age or older and must be identified as such and not in costume.

15. Personnel in procession must not be under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances. Smoking and vaping by participants or assistants during the procession is discouraged.

16. No live animals allowed in the procession except for guide and assistance dogs.

17. No pushchairs allowed in the procession when carrying a child, either with an entry or with the ground crew, (some walking entries use a pushchair to carry a loudspeaker for musical accompaniment which is allowed).

18. Bands, majorettes, and other walking groups are not allowed to perform counter marching or static displays whilst in the procession.

19. Any special effects (Pyrotechnic/Flame/ gas propelled effects) should be cleared by the relevant committee in advance and be accompanied by a Risk Assessment.

20. Entries must not litter the highway, the line up or dispersal areas. No objects of any kind should be thrown from an entry and no liquids sprayed during the procession.

21. The space between any drawing vehicle and each trailer within the combination must be fitted with a physical, flexible barrier which actually prevents persons from entering the draw bar area when in procession, and shall have attached a sign reading “ DO NOT CROSS” or “NO ENTRY”, In addition, road crew members must be positioned either side of the gaps to ensure this is a sterile area.

22. Mounted/mechanised entries must have an accessible towing eye and pin at the front of the towing vehicle to enable a second vehicle to be attached if necessary, plus an air brake connection for vehicles using air brakes.

23. The closing date for entry into any of the affiliated carnivals is the 1st September each year.

24. (This condition only applies to entries taking part in Bridgwater Carnival)

Entries have a responsibility to ensure the health, safety and welfare of everyone involved with their entry during the carnival procession. Entries should undertake any risk assessments they feel necessary which establishes their duty of care to club members, road/ground crew and the general public who may be at risk of injury resulting from their entry.

CONDITIONS RELATING TO ENTRIES IN CLASSES 1-15 (JUDGED CLASSES)

  1. The Carnival town committees are not responsible if you enter in the wrong class, if you enter online you should check your entry is correct before and after you press submit, details of what you have entered will then appear on the screen which you can print off as a receipt your entry has been received. No change of class allowed after the 1st October.

  2. Age restrictions – Minimum age to take part in the carnival is 5 years and over on the 1st of November of the carnival year.Entries must complete the whole procession route in the carnival(s) entered to qualify for prize/appearance monies and county points unless previously agreed with the relevant Carnival town committee (s).

  3. Entries in class 6, must be 17 years and under on the 1st November of the carnival year.
    Entries in classes 8, and 12 must be 16 years or under on the 1st November of the carnival year.
    All ground crew must be 18 years of age or older.

4. A rest area (at each Carnival town committee’s discretion) will be clearly identified. There will be no judging in this area. Entries are allowed to break from their routine without affecting their judging points. All entries must maintain travel through a rest area to avoid causing hold ups.

5. If the procession halts for more than two minutes entries shall be permitted to relax until the procession restarts. During the ‘relax time’ no judging will take place. It is advised that clubs reduce the volume of their music during this time.

6. No advertising is allowed on any part of an entry being judged i.e. between the entry’s numbers front and back. Failing to comply could result in point deduction.

7. A Tableau is a motionless representation of a scene or event and no deliberate visible. movement (or illusion of movement) is permitted.

  1. Classes 1 to 6 must be fully mounted. Entries will be judged on the content of their entry between the front and the rear procession numbers which must be on both sides of the front and back of the entry. It is the entry’s responsibility to ensure that numbers are positioned to show the area you want to be judged.

8. Classes 1 to 5 – must have a minimum of eight personnel on the entry.
Class 6 – must have a minimum of six personnel on the entry.

Classes 1-6
Recommended Ground Crew For 3-part entries – Min 9, Max 13
Recommended Ground Crew For 2-part entries – Min 7, Max 9
Recommended Ground Crew For 1-part entries – Min 5, Max 7

should you require additional roadcrew then this can be accepted in accordance with your club’s risk assessment.

Classes 7 – 13

for judging purposes and for compliance all entries that are encased in a prop it will be considered as both a costume and a prop.

Classes 7 & 8

  • must consist of a minimum of six, maximum of twenty-five persons, to include the drivers of any vehicles.

  • floats or other prop/s towed or propelled by physical or mechanical means, with or without a maximum of 3 personnel on board is permitted, the others must be pedestrians.

  • entries with towing vehicle and trailer – minimum of 2 maximum of 6 road crew dependent on number of pedestrians in the entry.

  • up to 6 ground crew members are permitted to aid the entry in any way other than propelling any non-motorised props (except in emergency situations). These ground crews must be identified as such and not in costume.

  • an entry with a towing vehicle and trailer will be judged from the procession number placed on both sides of the front of the entry they wish to be judged together with a number at the rear of the entry.

 

Class 8 all participants must comply with the juvenile class age limit (excluding the driver of any vehicles and road crew)

Class 9 must consist of a minimum of three, maximum of seven costumed persons.

  • must be self-propelled with or without props, with a maximum of 2 persons on board any props. The others must be pedestrians.

  • up to two ground crew members are permitted to aid the entry in any way other than propelling the props (except in emergency situations).

  • no motorised accompaniment is allowed.

Class 10 must consist of two costumed persons.

  • must be self-propelled, with or without props, with a maximum of one person on board any props, the other must be a pedestrian.

  • up to two ground crew members are permitted to aid the entry in any way other than propelling the props (except in emergency situations).

  • no motorised vehicle accompaniment is allowed.

Class 11 & 12 

one costumed pedestrian.

  • must be self-propelled, with or without props.

  • no motorised vehicle accompaniment is allowed.

  • up to two ground crew members are permitted to aid the entry in any way other than propelling the props (except in emergency situations).

Class 13

  • only single or pairs of masqueraders are allowed

  • entrants must use an un-motorised or motorised wheeled prop powered by battery limited to 48 volts power supply.

  • up to two ground crew members are permitted to aid the entry in any way other than propelling the props (except in emergency situations).

  1. Entries must complete and sign a Procession Declaration Form and hand this in on arrival at the line up area of the first county town in which they are taking part. 

  2.  The SCGFCA. and some carnivals award a trophy for the “Best third unit”; to qualify for these awards your entry must be a train of three.

   3. Two scrutineers identified by a different colour tabard will be positioned near the start and end of the procession route at each carnival to check class rules are being adhered.

   4. Any proposed imposition of penalties and any disputes resulting from the imposition of penalties will be enacted in accordance with the current SCGFCA recommended disputes procedure, copy available online at www.somersetcountycarnivals.com

Terminology: SCGFCA – Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival Association.​​​

​