Pewsey Carnival

Pewsey Carnival has been an annual village event since 1898 and attracts visitors from all over the county. It is during the two weeks of Carnival events that you can most easily bump into old friends who have come back to the village to join in the celebrations.

Carnival events include (but certainly not limited to!) the crowning of the Carnival Queen & Princess, The Wheelbeero Race, The Wine Race, The Sedan Chair Race, Rock Night and a final illuminated evening Carnival procession of floats, bands, performers and people in all manner of fancy-dress through the village. In time for the procession, people along the route decorate their houses and gardens up in elaborate themes that are later judged and awarded prizes.

The Wheelbeero Race, also known as 'The Beer Race' consists of participants assembling into 3-person teams, dressing up in themed fancy-dress specific to their team, and following a designated 2 mile route through the village that stops at various pubs and clubs. The rules of the race are: one person must be sitting in a wheelbarrow at all times while the other two team members push them through the route... at the various stops along the route, at least one team member must drink a pint of beer (more may be consumed if desired!).... the mad drunken team to cross the finish line first is the winner! Although the route through the village changes from year to year, it invariably includes a trip through the river!

The Wine Race is similar to the beer race except that the 3-person team is tied in 4-legged style (no wheelbarrow!) and drink a glass of wine at each stop along the route.

The Sedan Chair Race is similar to the above two races except that the participants are children, drink non-alcoholic drinks, and two people carry a third in a "sedan" style chair through the route.

Rock Night is often held at either the Bouverie Hall or in a marquee in the field behind The Coopers Arms. Several bands entertain the ever-expanding crowd. In 2004 it included local crowd-pleaser 'Pants' and 'Off The Rails'. In earlier years it has been 'Sweet', 'Jowdi', 'T-Rex', 'The Glitter Band', 'Innes Sibun'!

For the second week of Carnival, a travelling fun-fair comes to Pewsey and sets up on the edge of the village providing weekend and evening rides and entertainment.

The processsion, which happens the evening of the final Saturday of Carnival (despite rain!) is the biggest party of the week!

In the past, those watching the parade would throw coins onto the floats and into buckets carried by participants. However, in recent years the Carnival organisers and participants have asked that coins be safely deposited in collection buckets and collections vans on the night to avoid causing injury to people on the floats or walking in the parade.

This money, along with all the money collected from the various events during the two weeks go towards paying for next years Carnival with the remaining money being distributed to designated charities. Please give generously!

Remember to drink up early while watching the parade, as after its over, the local pubs fill up to beyond capacity and getting to the bar can prove a long and treacherous journey!