CARNIVAL: Brainstorming ideas already for 2016

FROM the outside the large uninspiring shed might not look anything special and certainly not out of place among other farm-related buildings, but once you get inside it is where dreams are turned into reality and the likes of movie-making legend Steven Spielberg’s imagination could run wild. Welcome to the HQ building shed of Harlequin Carnival Club.

Planning and preparations for next year’s Carnival season are already well underway for many clubs, none more so than with Ilminster-based Harlequin where they will be looking to wow the crowds once again.

PHOTO - TOP: Members of Harlequin CC with club chairman Steve Dawe (front centre) at their shed in Donyatt.

PHOTO – RIGHT: Thousands of light bulbs which have been taken off the Fogg’s World Tour cart.

The dust has barely settled on the 2015 circuit of processions, but clubs around the county will be getting ideas together on what they might do to wow the crowds next year.

Members of Harlequin CC, who came second overall on the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival Association circuit with its amazing Fogg’s World Tour cart, have already been busy dismantling the fabulous entry at their shed HQ at Donyatt.

Thousands of light bulbs have been taken out and the cart is being stripped back along with that show-stopping revolving plane at the front.

An initial meeting has also been held where club members have got together and had a brainstorming session on possible themes for next year’s entry.

Club chairman Steve Dawe said that it was an all-year round operation – although he admitted that it was always frantic “all-hands on deck” getting the cart ready leading up to the start of the Carnival season.

The possible ideas and themes for next year’s creation will be taken away and chewed over before a final decision is made in the early part of 2016.

Once that all-important theme has been decided upon plans will start to take shape and a scale model of their envisaged cart will be built.

But it all takes time – and money.

Steve said that the scale model of Fogg’s World Tour took 400 man-hours to build and the actual float itself would be the equivalent of a whopping and mind-blowing £250,000 in labour.

But he said he loved the camaraderie of Carnival and club members worked tirelessly to put on the best show possible with the shed becoming a hive of activity with electricians, carpenters, welders, painters and volunteers all doing their bit.

There are also the costume-makers who spend hours sewing on buttons and making clothes.

“It’s not until the first Carnival where you see the cart out on the road and everyone dressed looking the part that you really appreciate what you have achieved,” said Steve. “When I saw Fogg’s for the first time it left a tear in my eye.”

What will Harlequin conjure up for 2016? We will find out in late September.

PHOTO - ABOVE: The scale model of Fogg's World Tour on the top of the work bench at Harlequin's shed.

PHOTOS: Many thanks to Harlequin CC for inviting us to their behind-the-scenes activities at their HQ building shed.

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Carnival.