Flaming torches, colourful floats and a touch of Guy Fawkes mischief will light up the streets of Ottery St Mary later today as the town's annual carnival returns.
The torchlit Ottery St Mary Carnival takes place today (Friday, October 16), setting off from Finnimore Trading Estate at 7.30pm.
Organisers are expecting another strong turnout after last year's successful event, with music-filled floats, majorette troupes and local performers helping create a lively spectacle through the town.
A spokesperson for Ottery Carnival said: “There will be plenty of music from the floats. We also have a number of majorette troops plus our local line dancing group.
“We are still receiving entry forms but anticipate that there will be more than last year, which was a great success.”
This year's theme is Guy Fawkes, and participants are being encouraged to embrace the spirit of Bonfire Night with themed costumes and creative displays.
The spokesperson said: “Each year we have a theme for our marshals and volunteers. This year it is Guy Fawkes and we are asking local businesses to put a Guy in their shop windows. The Guys will be collected and put on to our bonfire for November 5.”
A distinctive feature of the carnival remains its nod to the town's famous fire festival traditions.
“Our carnival is a torchlit procession that includes a Tar Barrel on a carrier,” added the spokesperson.
On the day, road closures will come into force from 6.30pm to allow organisers time to clear the route and complete final safety checks before the procession begins. The procession starts at 7.30pm and will last 45 minutes to an hour.
The event serves as a fiery curtain-raiser to Ottery St Mary's world-famous Tar Barrels celebrations, which take place just three weeks later on November 5.
Believed to date back centuries, the Tar Barrels tradition is thought to have its roots in commemorations of the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when bonfires became a feature of annual celebrations across England.
Historically, carnival night and the Tar Barrels were held on the same evening, but as crowds increased the events were separated to improve safety and make them easier to manage. Today, the carnival is in October, while the Tar Barrels remain firmly rooted to November 5.
The spokesperson added: “The committee would like to thank everyone who is involved in running the event. A special thanks to Paul and Sarah Gibbons for all their hard work in organising the event. Also, Eva White, our secretary, for her continued admin support.”
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