It's Taunton Carnival time! (From Somerset County Gazette)

It's Taunton Carnival time!

7:00am Saturday 20th October 2012 in Taunton

THOUSANDS of spectators are expected to line the streets of Taunton tonight (October 20) for the town’s 47th annual carnival.

They are expected to enjoy the usual high standards of the various floats, but organisers are reminding them that the procession follows a different route to previous years.

The participants are forming up along Tangier Way, between the Lidl and Tesco stores, and the spectacle will start out at 7pm from the Third Way bridge, turning right into Bridge Street.

It will then take the traditional route through the town centre and down over East Reach, where it will finish at the junction with Chritchard Way and Wordsworth Drive.

For years Taunton Carnival had started off from Priory Bridge Road, turning into Station Road.

Carnival committee chairman Marilyn House said this year’s route was shorter and allowed the procession to assemble and disperse in areas with minimum disruption to traffic and residents.

She added: “We’d known for several years that our time in Priory Bridge Road car park and the market site was coming to an end due to redevelopment.

“We wanted to change things on this scale only once, so we’ve tried to anticipate the effects of other developments around the town.

“We want as many people as possible to see and enjoy the carnival every year and we believe this change will help deliver that aim.”

Our photographer will be on the street snapping floats and spectators. Check this website on Monday to view a picture gallery.