A CARNIVAL presentation took place on Sunday (January 30) at the Guildhall in Chard.

More than £3,000 was given to local groups, carnival clubs and charitable organisations thanks to grants from Chard Town Council, South Somerset District Council, the Welcome Back Fund, and heritage action zone funding.

Last year, Chard Carnival Committee decided to give everyone who entered appearance money so clubs were given funding towards the cost of their entries.

The committee had already given away £2,688 in 2021 and on Sunday, they gave away a further £3230.34.

"Last year’s carnival was a huge success, and we were proud to be one of the four towns that brought carnival back to our streets last year," said Chairman of Chard Carnival Committee and Mayor of Chard, Cllr Jason Baker.

"We tried a few new things with the addition of the Street Fayre which proved to be a huge success and had over 50 stalls stretching from one end of Holyrood street to the other and included lots of live music and entertainment.

"The evening event which we originally saw as a small walking parade quickly grew into a carnival with over 50 entries and was enjoyed by thousands of spectators, I think you will agree that there were some innovative entries that wowed us all.

"I would like to say a huge thank you and well done to all the committee who have worked tirelessly throughout the year to put on this event and for all the extra work that the Covid restrictions brought.

"There is much that goes on behind the scenes that no one sees, and I think they all deserve a huge round of applause."

The groups that received the additional funding included:

  • Schools selling quality carnival merchandise (Manor Court School, Avishayes School and Redstart School)
  • Groups or individuals who collected at the carnival (Zem carnival Club, Chard 1st Scouts & Beavers, Tatworth Amateur Pantomime Society and Avishayes football club)
  • Groups that applied for grants (Gemini carnival club, Make you laugh carnival club, Roger Muspratt, Magnum carnival club, Kai & Flynn Newbury, Spirit carnival club, Tatworth Christmas Lights, Bubbles carnival club, Kelly Leigh School of Dance, Zem carnival club, Inferno carnival club, Tatworth Amateur Pantomime Society, Stars Carriages, A & A carnival club, Chard First Scouts & Beavers, Avishayes school, Fearne Animal Sanctuary and Harlequins carnival club)
  • Groups that collected with the Christmas float (Inferno carnival club, Kye & Flynn Newbury, Chard first scouts & Beavers, Kelly Leigh school of dance, Juniors Reloaded carnival club, Tatworth Amateur Pantomime Society, Manor Court PTFA and Avishayes PTFA)

Chard Carnival Committee is holding their annual general meeting on Sunday, February 13, at 7pm, at the Guildhall in Chard.