FIFTEEN years of putting on folk and custom events in Wellington is being celebrated next week with a parade as part of the town’s annual carnival.

It will be the second year Wellington Folk and Custom Society has joined the carnival after much positive feedback received in 2024.

The parade to highlight English and British folk culture in Wellington will feature society members and supporters on foot, with a Harvest Queen and Lord of the Wild (antler man) led by a piper and drummer, Bishop Blaize and Saint Brigit, a large illuminated dragon, the dragon bearer, a Viking King and Queen, The Lady of The Wellington’s unique ‘Witches Ladder’, Cyber-Punk with his levitating glowing dancing sticks, a Fool, Mordred the Dragon, lantern bearers, the White Witch of Wellington, four collection maids, and the banner bearers.

There will also be two new large creations this year which will be revealed on the night, plus other folk with new outfits followed by the Blaize ’n’ Bridget Evergreen carriage driven by the Green Man, and Bootstrap Border Morris and musicians.

This year’s Wellington Blaize and Brigit are Danny and Laura Gilham, who where sworn in at the society’s annual ‘Blaize ’n’ Bridget night’ in February, who will ride in the carriage.

The Blaize night of Wellington was first recorded in 1889 when the town’s wool-combers would vote for their choice of a local man from the wool industry to be Bishop Blaize, the patron saint of wool-combers.

Earlier, the name in Celtic means wolf man, and in Arthurian legends Blaize was Merlin’s mentor.

In Wellington, a ceremony and celebrations were held in a local public house and sometimes in a person’s home annually on February 3.

Saint Bridget was venerated and celebrated on February 1 and is linked to the British Brigantes and previously was Brigit the goddess of poetry, smithcraft, healing, animal care, the eternal flame, the bringer of light, bringing us spring.

A society spokesperson said: “Therefore, these ancient folk customs are entwined with secular and different beliefs.

“Like the people before us of Wellington town who put on these community events, we are secular and of mixed faiths and beliefs coming together as a community celebrating the symbolic meaning of the changing of the seasons.

“Bootstrap Border Morris are an enthusiastic and energetic border morris.

“They have developed their own Somerset/Devon border style.

“Their repertoire includes traditional and contemporary border Morris dances drawing on inspiration from the local historic and industrial heritage.

“You can see their full dance performances at Wellington Folk and Custom Society's wassail in January and Blaize n Bridget Night in February.”

Anybody who wants to join the society can email to [email protected].

The carnival is on Saturday, September 27, with the procession setting off from Exeter Road, Rockwell Green, at 7.30 pm and making its way through the town centre and toward a finish near the Cades roundabout.

A number of road closures on the entrances to the town will start to be enforced for the carnival event from 6 pm.