Jubilation Cart will be joining Exeter Carnival procession

With less than a month to go until the return of Exeter Carnival, InExeter the Business Improvement District, the organisation behind Exeter Carnival’s return have released more information on the Carnival Procession.

Ann Hunter, BID Manager at InExeter says “The return of Exeter Carnival following 24 years is a historic day for the city and is one we should all celebrate. We are incredibly proud that the new Exeter Carnival will include the Jubilation Cart that took part in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant parade in London this summer. Exeter is the only carnival outside Somerset other than the parade in London where the cart can be seen. We feel very privileged to be delivering Exeter Carnival back to the city and for the Jubilation Cart joining us for this momentous day.”

The Jubilation Cart was built especially for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant parade. To build the impressive cart, multiple carnival clubs surrounding Bridgwater and Somerset joined forces, combining the talents of hundreds of carnivalites.

Over 200 people from 17 different carnival clubs were involved in constructing the cart with the design of the cart starting in August 2021 with construction starting in October and took 8 months to complete with days left to spare before the parade.

The impressive cart reflected the various regal elements of the monarchy including the royal crest, 4 revolving crowns, 12 moving Beefeaters and 8 royal carriages. There are 40 engineered moving parts, 18 spectacularly crafted models, 4,000+ lights and additional spotlights with 36 individual speakers powered by 43.5 kilowatts. The build itself used 180 sheets of 12mm plywood, over 20,000 wood screws and 200 litres of environmentally friendly water-based paint to decorate the cart.
 

Visit Exeter, the Destination Marketing Organisation for Exeter run by Exeter City Council are sponsoring Exeter Carnival. Claire Toze, Tourism Manager at Visit Exeter comments: “Jubilation coming to Exeter is a once in a lifetime experience that should not be missed. The return of Exeter Carnival is something we cannot wait to be a part of.”

Dave Jennings from Griffens Carnival Club comments: “It was an immense privilege to have been invited to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s long reign and dedicated service. We remain proud of the manner in which we commemorated such an historic occasion. The memory of that day, and of the Queen herself, will stay with us for as long as we live.”

Carnival is something that a whole generation has missed in Exeter and the city will be lit up spectacularly on 26th November. Jubilation will be joined by carnival clubs from the South Somerset Federation, East Devon and South Devon circuits alongside local entries from groups and organisations in Exeter.

Entries visitors can experience at Exeter Carnival include Harlequin Carnival Club who attended the first Exeter Carnival in 1977. Local choir ‘Big Noise Chorus’ have also entered and will be performing on a bus provided by travel sponsor Stagecoach.

Exeter Carnival will start at 6pm at the bottom of South Street. It will parade up South Street, turning right onto the High Street, processing up Sidwell Street all the way to the Odeon roundabout, around the roundabout and back down Sidwell Street to finish at the junction with High Street and Paris Street.

No matter where you watch the carnival you will see all of the parade. Those spectating on Sidwell Street will get the chance to see the parade pass twice, as the carnival procession will parade up then turn around to parade back along Sidwell Street. InExeter encourage people to spread out across the route to get a great view of the parade.

For more information and all updates please visit www.exetercarnival.com.