ONE of the warmest carnival nights in memory saw several thousands of people line the streets of Wellington on Saturday (September 25) for the town’s spectacular annual cavalcade of music and light and dancing.
It was the first procession of the 2026 season for the South Somerset Federation of Carnivals and the first since the Wellington committee tried to move the traditional date from the last Saturday in September to a weekend in October.
Wellington folk and custom society members (left to right) Danny, Laura, and Finlay Gillham, with Imogen Cox and Jo Larton. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.
Wellington School's corps of drums led the town's 2026 carnival parade. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.
Wellington Town Crier Andrew Norris having his collar felt at this year's annual carnival procession. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.
Andrew Gothard with A&A Carnival Club's 'The Vikings' invading Wellington Carnival. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.
Ipplepen Carnival Club brought its 'Masquerade' float to the Wellington procession. Alain Lockyer.
A 1st Wellington Scouts member riding a three-headed monster for the town's annual carnival. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.
Crowds packed Wellington town centre for the 2026 carnival procession. PHOT: Alain Lockyer.
Several majorette troupes entertained crowds ling the streets for Wellington Carnival 2026. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.
Harlequin Carnival Club with their winning Wellington entry 'The Blitz'. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.
Members of Wellington Wildcats ladies football teams paraded for the town's carnival night. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.
Chard's ZEM Carnival Club brought the 'Spirit of the Season' to Wellington. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.
Standing several rows deep, crowds lined Wellington streets for the annual carnival night. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.
Visitors from Torres Vedras, Wellington's twin town in Portugal, took part in the annual carnival on Saturday. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.
A giant St Brigit towers over Wellington Folk and Custom Society members during the town's carnival. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.
Pickle Carnival Club, a junior club from Yeovil, with their inventive Wellington entry. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.
A majorette troupe brings a dash of colour and sparkle to Wellington Carnival 2026. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer.
Wellington folk and custom society members (left to right) Danny, Laura, and Finlay Gillham, with Imogen Cox and Jo Larton. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
Wellington School's corps of drums led the town's 2026 carnival parade. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
Wellington Town Crier Andrew Norris having his collar felt at this year's annual carnival procession. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
Andrew Gothard with A&A Carnival Club's 'The Vikings' invading Wellington Carnival. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
Ipplepen Carnival Club brought its 'Masquerade' float to the Wellington procession. Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
A 1st Wellington Scouts member riding a three-headed monster for the town's annual carnival. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
Crowds packed Wellington town centre for the 2026 carnival procession. PHOT: Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
Several majorette troupes entertained crowds ling the streets for Wellington Carnival 2026. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
Harlequin Carnival Club with their winning Wellington entry 'The Blitz'. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
Members of Wellington Wildcats ladies football teams paraded for the town's carnival night. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
Chard's ZEM Carnival Club brought the 'Spirit of the Season' to Wellington. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
Standing several rows deep, crowds lined Wellington streets for the annual carnival night. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
Visitors from Torres Vedras, Wellington's twin town in Portugal, took part in the annual carnival on Saturday. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
A giant St Brigit towers over Wellington Folk and Custom Society members during the town's carnival. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
Pickle Carnival Club, a junior club from Yeovil, with their inventive Wellington entry. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
A majorette troupe brings a dash of colour and sparkle to Wellington Carnival 2026. PHOTO: Alain Lockyer. Alain Lockyer
The change of date was rejected by the federation and ‘reluctantly’ accepted by the committee, which acknowledged the support it received from people in the other towns in the circuit to set up road closures and help with judging and marshalling.
Saturday’s Wellington procession set off from Rockwell Green at 7.30 pm, where crowds were also entertained by the Skintight Samba band playing in the car park of Villa Verde.
It was more than two hours later when the last of the 56 entries reached the finishing point at the junction of Priory to the east of the town centre.
Wellington School’s corp of drums was at the head of the event, followed by town crier Andrew Norris, and noisy members of the Windy Wheelers Motorcycle Club.
A group of firefighters from Wellington’s twin town in Portugal, Torres Vedras, again took part in the carnival, which for them was part of a 12-strong twinning visit to the town.
Wellington Majorettes were among nine troupes which paraded on the evening, and there were more than 10 floats of various sizes in the feature, tableau, comic, junior and open classes.
The top prize was won for a fifth consecutive year by Ilminster’s Harlequin Carnival Club with its float ‘The Blitz’.
- The full list of carnival results can be found in this week’s community news page.
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