Brightlingsea Carnival Association

Formed in the year 1951, and with half a Century behind it, Brightlingsea Carnival is still the biggest one day attraction in the Town calendar. The aim of Carnival is to encourage all groups, organisations, and families of all ages to enter into the spirit of Carnival and get involved, whether it is the activities that take place in the week prior to Carnival Day or on the day by taking part in the street procession and arena events. During its time there have been notable visitors to Carnival Day, two of them being Red Rum and Worzel Gummidge. These days the cost of a celebrity is expensive and it is felt that money raised on Carnival Day is better used by sharing it amongst the various organisations in Brightlingsea. As well as local groups there have been donations to other charities, probably the largest being the purchase of patient monitoring equipment for the Essex Air Ambulance, this was in association with Brightlingsea and District Rotary Club. Another event still talked of today was “Golden Victory Day” held in 1995 to commemorate the end of World War 2, or 50 years of peace as it was locally called.
For the Committee members Carnival Day is just part of the year as they are involved in running the very popular carboot sales on promenade way, late night shopping has significant involvement by them, not forgetting the Carnival Queen and Princesses who along with their chaperones and drivers give up several summer Saturdays to visit other towns across Essex and Suffolk and take part in their Carnivals and help put Brightlingsea on the map.