November events: Watch an illuminated parade at Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival

This carnival has come a long way since its beginnings in the 1600s, when the people of Somerset took effigies of Guy Fawkes to be burnt after the foiled Gunpowder plot. In fact, this procession of over 100 bright floats, music and dancing is now so big that around 22,000 lightbulbs are required to illuminate the annual parade through the streets.

Somerset’s spectacular winter carnival is now visited by crowds of up to 150,000, who all stay around until the procession ends to watch ‘squibbing’; an explosive tradition where hundreds of fireworks on sticks are held out along the road, giving the effect of light raining down. An unusual, but entirely unique experience.