Glastonbury Carnival 2023

Greetings, friends. Have you ever heard of The Glastonbury Carnival of Lights? No? Well then, have I got news for you!

Do you want so many flashy lights they can be seen from space? Enough candy floss to sink a small island or music so loud it would put your local boy racer to shame? You do? Then visit the Glastonbury Carnival on Saturday the 18th of November 2023.

WARNING:

For the first time ever, there will be no pre-procession, which means the main event will begin at 6:45 pm instead. The town and the by-pass will be completely shut down to traffic from 3pm due to the volume of people coming to watch the carnival on that day.

BEWARE: This may be subject to change if this year’s crowds are large. Somerset police will not hesitate to close roads earlier than advertised. You might even want to walk to Glastonbury from Street if you can, to avoid being blocked in for the day

The Somerset Guy Fawkes Carnival of lights takes place every year (apart from during Covid) from the 5th the 19th of November. Starting in Bridgwater, Burnham-on–Sea, Weston Super Mare, North Petherton, Midsomer Norton, Shepton Mallet, Wells and ending in Glastonbury.

Obviously, because we here at Wyrdraven are based in Glastonbury we would encourage you to visit us here – as it’s the last stop and the best in our humble opinion. 😉 Not to mention you could always pop in and say “Hi”.

Now, as with most things that are hugely popular with visitors and locals alike, parking can be a tad tricky. Navigating your visit should be approached to something akin to a military operation. So, with that in mind, here is Stu’s Glastonbury Carnival Survival Tips.

Starting Friday, November 17th from 8pm until 11pm approximately on Saturday 18th, the A39 Glastonbury relief road, from Northload Bridge Roundabout to Tinbridge Roundabout, along with Wells Road link road, will be closed for the Carnival’s overnight line-up. The roads will reopen on November 19th at 11pm, pending area clearance.

On Saturday, November 18th, more closures will occur:

From 3pm to 11pm approximately, Magdalene Street, High Street, and Benedict Street in the town centre will be closed for spectators and daytime entertainers.
Later in the day, from around 5pm until 10-11 PM (or when it’s safe to reopen), the A39 Street Roundabout, A39 Northload Bridge Roundabout, B3151, Northload Bridge Road, and Chilkwell Street at the A361 junction will be closed.

Alongside normal Council run car parks, on-street free parking or asking a friend’s permission to abandon your chariot in their driveway… there are many well signposted Carnival Parking areas dotted around the vicinity, each charging £5 with the proceeds going to Glastonbury Carnival Clubs and local charities. The most popular and central to the carnival route being the carparks of B&Q, Tesco’s, TOR Leisure (situated adjacent to Morrisons) and Herbies Field. For more information go to the official Glastonbury Carnival website.

Be aware that leaving Glastonbury once it’s all over can be a bit tricky. It’s worth arriving a little earlier to pick the best parking spot, as the roads are completely shut down during the parade. Or, as we mentioned before, park in Street and then walk in and out to avoid getting stuck.

My advice would be don’t bother bringing food with you. Every ten feet there will be some sort of snack van, burger bar or hot dog stand as well as the Glastonbury cafes and pubs. However, make sure you get enough water and snacks before the Glastonbury Carnival starts, as you might feel reluctant to leave your good view spot once you’re situated.

Right then, in my opinion you want to bring as little as humanly possible because it’s going to be crowded – VERY CROWDED! I have personally seen it shoulder to shoulder following the route and it has taken me a while just to get from one end of the town to the other.

However, if you feel like bringing the extra luggage; a fold up chair and a blanket wouldn’t do you any harm. But be warned, the further you are from your car the harder it is to leave with all the extra weight.

Also, it’s November and it’s pretty much guaranteed it’s going to be cold, so wear plenty of warm layers! Make sure to check weather conditions incase it rains.

As with any huge gathering there are always those who want to spoil it for the rest of us. So, even though the crime rate is low it is prudent to keep your wits about you. With regards to parking, keep in mind that when Glastonbury Carnival finishes it will feel like a mass exodus of biblical proportion. So be aware that it will take some time to not only get back to your car but battle your way free from the tsunami of vehicles heading in the same direction. Just giving you the heads up!

Now, obviously I can’t give you ALL the information regarding the Glastonbury Carnival on a word restricted blog, so it would seem prudent that you do your own research. If you have never been to the carnival before then have a look on social media for clips of the Carnival in action. Check out this awesome YouTube video of the 2022 Glastonbury Carnival by Syd Hutchinson, to get a sneak peak into what to expect.

In conclusion, just come and see it for yourself. It really is something to behold, even if it’s not your normal kind of thing. Personally, I was blown away the first time I witnessed it.

Lastly, don’t forget to visit us at Wyrdraven, 7 Benedict Street, BA6 9NE (down the road at the bottom of town between the two cafes) and say hello. Because let’s face it, it would be rude not to considering you’re here now 😉