COVID-19 UPDATE – No carnival in Cary this year

After serious consideration, due to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak, the Carnival Society has decided that the usual evening illuminated carnival will be replaced by a much smaller event.  Details will be developed nearer the time as the government’s measures to minimise the outbreak become clearer.  A key considerable is clearly social distancing.

“2020 is the centenary of carnival in Castle Cary, and so many events already cancelled, the Committee felt strongly that we must do something this year.” said, Di Pinnions, Society Chair.  ‘Whatever happens, we know that it will be very different and far smaller than our usual carnival celebrations.  Keeping everyone safe is our key priority.”

This year’s carnival, in its special form, will take place on Saturday 17 October – our original date.  Some ideas include; a lantern procession, with special categories for masks!

The Ann Hallett Children’s Carnival, scheduled for the 10 October, is cancelled.

Castle Cary and Ansford’s decision is in line with the rest of the Wessex carnival circuit, and Somerset Carnivals overall.   Since introduction of the government’s lockdown measures, carnival clubs have not been able to work on their entries, and events in the extensive programme of fund-raising carried out by clubs and town committee’s have been cancelled.

Everyone remains committed to ensuring carnival in Somerset continues to thrive.  We all look forward to welcoming the noise and pizzazz of the floats, masqueraders, and bands back to our streets bigger and better than ever in 2021.