Gillingham’s Annual Carnival, part of the Wessex Grand Prix Carnival Circuit. Takes place every year during the second week of October. Link: www.gillinghamcarnival.org.uk
The West Country Carnival Circuits are an annual celebration featuring a parade of illuminated floats (also referred to as carts), in the English West Country. The celebration dates back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The purpose is to raise money for local charities.
The series of parades in each town now form a major regional festival. Some carts cost in excess of £40,000 to build and are the result of thousands of hours work throughout the year. The carnival is always accompanied at Gillingham by Coles Fun Fair which sets up on the Town Meadow, opening from the Wednesday evening to Carnival night on the Saturday, a family owned business bringing rides for the young and more daring rides for the brave. All the fun of the fair!
