Carnival reveals dramatic change to help save cash
BBCA carnival has announced changes for the event amid a lack of funding.
Shepton Carnival says for the first time ever it will not be able to pay appearance or prize money to clubs who enter the event.
The organisers say it costs them about £15,000 to put on the event each year, and they have lost some of their main fund-raising after an event was cancelled.
Marcus Baker, the organiser behind Shepton Carnival, said: "We've had a look at the finances. We don't have the opportunities of charging people to park their cars, all those streams of revenue we see others are able to do, we're on a working day, you don't want to be shutting down the town for any longer than it's needed. "
The west country carnival circuits are an annual celebration usually around bonfire night, dating back to the gunpowder plot of 1605.
Carnival clubs across the region spend all year making carts for the parades, some of them elaborate, costing thousands of pounds to construct.
Baker added that they have started looking for supporters, asking people to donate £5 in exchange for a carnival programme.
In addition, they have had to tell participating clubs that they cannot guarantee they will be able to pay for their appearances, despite a long-standing tradition.
"The clubs understand where we are. They know themselves, even for clubs, you don't know what's ahead. Everything costs money to do," Baker said.
Tanya Jones, chair of Globe Carnival Club, said Shepton Carnival is one of their local events where they get to see their friends and family.
"As a club we weren't too worried. If it came down to it, we'd rather have a carnival than appearance money," Jones said.
"Making new friends, it's a massive community thing. The appearance money doesn't really come into that."
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