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It's finally here! The iconic Bridgwater Carnival is set to roll into town on Saturday.

Known as The Guy Fawkes Carnival, this year's event is expected to attract more than 100,000 people to Bridgwater from around the West County, Britain and abroad.

The carnival could top last year's spectacle with more visitors and even better carts.

Here is everything you need to know about this year's event.

What exactly is the Bridgwater Carnival?

The Guy Fawkes Carnival is an annual event full of brightly lit carts, colourful performers, talented acts and of course, squibbers.

Dating from as early as 1847, spectators can expect at least 40 illuminated carts - each up to 30 metres long - packed with lights and dancers performing as well as musical acts.

The large vehicles pay homage to popular children's books and films, historical moments and places.

If you want a teaser of what to expect, watch the carnival clubs perform their acts at the Bridgwater Carnival Concerts from Monday, October 1 until Saturday, October 13.

The carnival ends with the famous act of squibbing - where a group of people light stout poles in the shape of brooms and fireworks shoot out.

The act is in celebration of Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators failing to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

When will it start?

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According to the official website, this year's event will start at 6:35pm with a carnival pre-procession before the main procession starting at 7pm and will end roughly around 10.30pm.

The Grand Squibbing Display will start 15 minutes after the procession finishes at approximately 10.45pm.

What route do the carts take?

(Image: Google Maps)

Thankfully the Carnival website has a helpful map outlining the route.

The start of procession (highlighted as icon 3) will start at 7pm at Bath Road before passing through the Cross Rifles Roundabout, Broadway, Taunton Road Junction, St Marys Street, Cornhill, High Street, Penel Orlieu, Mount Street, Northgate.

The route is set to remain the same for 2018 meaning you can still view procession from your regular spots.

Sounds great! What's the best place to view the carts?

(Image: Somerset Live/ SWNS)

According to Carnival organisers, the best places to view the action is either Market Street or Mount Street.

We however have scouted these positions and complied a guide last year for where to stand. This can be seen below.

Word of warning however - if you want to get the best views, you must arrive early to beat the queues and avoid fighting your way towards the front.

Where can I park?

There is limited car parking options in Bridgwater but your best bet is to park in the larger St Matthews Field and Bridgwater College car parks.

You can park at these Official Bridgwater Carnival car parks for £5:

Angel Place Shopping Centre - from 4.30pm until midnight

ASDA - from 3pm until midnight

Bridgwater College - from 2pm until midnight

Bridgwater Hospital - from 10am until midnight

Bridgwater Retail Park - from 1pm until midnight

B&M (old B&Q) - from 2pm until midnight

Morrisons - from 2pm until midnight

Mount Street (Old Splash site) - from 1pm until midnight

St Matthews Field - from 10am until midnight

Many of these car parks have parking bays for blue badge holders and are used on a first come first used basis.

What about Park and Ride?

You can hop onto a Park and Ride bus from four places.

Three from Junction 23 - at Morrisons from 11am, Hinkley C and Car Auctions from 2pm.

You can catch a coach from from Junction 24 of the M5 from 2pm onwards.

It costs £5 per car for the car park and £1 per adult for the bus.

Is it free to attend?

(Image: Steve Roberts)

It is! Spectators are free to stand behind the barriers on the procession route.

Unfortunately Grandstand tickets are also sold out so your best bet is to stand on the high street.

What roads will be closed?

(Image: Getty Images)

Here is a full list of which roads will be closed and when according to the Bridgwater Carnival website.

The following roads will be closed at 8am:

Cornhill

High Street

Clare Street

Lamb Lane

Parkway (Northbound, Westonzoyland Road to Bincombe Road)

The following roads will be closed at 10am:

These roads shall reopen at 1am on Sunday, November 4 but may be earlier dependant upon the prevailing conditions and in consultation with the police.

Parkway (Northbound, full length)

Wyndham Road

Frederick Road (Wyndham Road to Parkway)

Knowle Road

Trevor Road (Knowle Road to Parkway)

The following roads will be closed at 12pm:

Lane one of Broadway from Friarn Street to the junction with Taunton Road will be closed to facilitate the arrival of the Grandstands and to enable parking of pre-booked coaches from 2.30pm.

Lane one of Broadway from Taunton Road to a point 50m before the junction with Albert Street will be closed to enable the parking of pre-booked coaches from 2pm.

The following roads will be closed at 2pm:

Broadway (Northbound from Salmon Parade to Monmouth Street)

Monmouth Street (Northbound)

Blake Place (Capes Close to Monmouth Street).

The following road will be closed at 5pm:

To prepare for the closure of Broadway at 6pm, lane three of Taunton Road inbound on the approach to the traffic lights at the junction with Broadway will be closed.

Haygrove View will be closed until 8.30pm.

The following roads will be closed at 5.15pm:

These roads shall reopen at 1am on Sunday, November 4 but may be earlier dependant upon the prevailing conditions and in consultation with the police.

Bath Road (Monmouth Street to Bower Lane)

Westonzoyland Road (Eastern Avenue to St John Street)

Parkway: Southbound (Bath Road to Sydenham Road)

Monmouth Street (Southbound)

Broadway (Friarn Street to Monmouth Street)

Taunton Road (Canal Bridge to St Mary's Street)

St Mary's Street

Penel Orlieu

Mount Street

Northgate

Chandos Bridge

East Quay

Wylds Road (East Quay to The Drove)

Dampiet Street (George Street to St Mary's Street)

Old Taunton Road (Taunton Road to Broadway)

Eastover (Church Street to Monmouth Street)

St John Street (Barclay Street to Monmouth Street)

The Clink Bristol Road (Wylds Road to the Cross Rifles roundabout)

Salmon Parade ("Old" Hospital Car Park to Broadway)

Salmon Parade (Lime Kiln Inn to Broadway)

The Drove

(Image: Tracey Peckham)

These roads shall reopen at 1am on Sunday, November 4 but may be earlier dependant upon the prevailing conditions and in consultation with the police.

The following roads will be closed at 6.30pm:

St Matthews Field will be closed until 8.30pm.

The following roads will be closed at 7pm:

West Street (From Broadway to St Matthews Field) will be closed until 8.30pm.

I am visiting just for the Carnival – can I get the train to Bridgwater?

Yes you can! You can take a train to Bridgwater and walk from there to the town centre.

What else is happening on the day?

There is a day full of acts starting from 10am continuing right up the main event at 7.30pm.

Around 100 acts are said to perform throughout the day, ranging from singers, jazz bands, children's parades and batonettes and of course, carnival clubs and carts.

There's even going to be international performers, namely acts from Montenegro and Algeria.

Punters can even see The Bug from Arcadia, a six-wheeled amphibious installation which opens its wings to reveal a fully rigged, mobile DJ stage on Cornhill.

Live music and street theatre is on the High Street while the St Mary’s Church will host the Wells City Band and Somerset Songbirds.

The Bristol Batala, Wycombe Steel Band and Exmouth Shanty will also be travelling into Bridgwater to perform throughout the day.

Countdown to Bridgwater Carnival

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If you prefer to avoid venturing out of your house for the iconic event, don't worry.

Somerset Live will be at the Guy Fawkes Carnival to bring you the best photos, video and a Facebook Live of the entire event.

If you want the latest Carnival updates, follow us on Facebook here and Twitter at @SomersetLive.