The spirit of carnival was blazing at the weekend as several individual clubs overcame hugely frustrating obstacles to wow the crowds in two towns.
Chard and Castle Cary were in party mood as dusk descended and the normally sober-suited transformed into glitzy rocky horror, glam rock and science fiction characters, with a sprinkling of fairy tales and dancing girls.
One of the most original entries at Chard's big night was the quartet of animated human-operated horses of Yeovil-based Motiv8 CC's Western Wedding entry.
But despite the parade being the third in the South Somerset circuit, it was Motiv8's first night out with the complete pioneers' wagon and the clip-clopping, fun fur-covered steeds.
Alex Archibald, Mark Extance, and John and Dan Warr, provided the horses front legs, and pulled the wires to animate the back legs.
But as Alex explained: "We haven't got any shelter to work under and it has taken longer than we wanted to get ready.
"For the last few weeks we have been working under wooden sticks supporting plastic sheets. If anyone has a barn available for us to use we would love to hear. They can ring our chairman Dan Warr on 07795 994215."
The club's determination won them the Mayor's Choice trophy.
The Poppe Inn, Tatworth, was another fighting the odds.
"Our generator has gone bust but we are still here, we'll be walking," said Marian Harris, who had designed and made the costumes for the club's Once Upon a Time entry.
There was plenty of home town talent on show, including Zem CC's lively Alice entry, bringing Lewis Caroll's characters to life. One of the most striking masqueraders was local man Andy Tizzard, resplendent as Snowflake Wizard, though he admitted his glittering white costume weighed a ton.
Chard Carnival results
Special awards: Best entry public choice: Club 2000 Arctic Attack. Best float from Chard: Eclipse CC, Moscow. Best costume on float: Gemini CC, Race Time Starlight Express. Lighting on float: Eclipse CC. Most colourful float: Gemini CC. Best music on float, Harlequins CC, Scarecrows Jubilee. Best maintained tractor/lorry, Gemini CC. Best non-federation entry, Lily Cumming, Ice Queen. Best costume on foot, Xtreme CC, Marry the Night. Best make-up Lily Cumming, Ice Queen. Mayor's choice, Motiv8 CC, Western Wedding. Spirit of carnival, Gemini CC Best youth walking entry, Chard, Jess CC, A Little Bit of Spain. Routine or Pose: Gemini CC. Best entry of foot, Xtreme Marry the Night. Best entry in procession: Gemini CC.
Feature: 1, Eclipse CC, Moscow; 2, Club 2000, Arctic Attack; 2, Harelquin CC, Scarecrows Jubilee. Tableaux: 1, Gemini CC, Race Time, Starlight Express. Comic: 1, One Plus One CC, Sun, Sea and False Teeth. Youth: 1, Rascals CC, Mary's World' 2, Generations Cc, On That Farm; 3, Josh F1, Josh F1. Open: 1, The Wonders, Surfin USA; 2, Stage4Kidz, Colourful Carnival Kids; 3, Town Team/Eclipse CC, Chard Christmas Lights. Single walking adult: 1, A + A CC, Atlantis; 2, Academy of Carnival, Snowflake Wizardry; 3, Spirit CC, Venezia. Single walking juvenile: 1, Rio Welsh, Autumn Promenade; 2, Jess CC, A Little Bit of Spain; 3, Lorna Stephenson, Rio 2016. Walking pairs: 1, Dee Gees CC, Jestus 2;
2,, Dave and Lisa Arney, Frohe Weihnachten. Groups: Cousins CC, Up Up and Away. Walking open: 1, Xtreme CC, Marry the Night; 2, Motiv8, Western Wedding; 3, Zem CC, Alice. Trade: Taylors Coach Travel. Non-federation waling: 1, Lily Cumming, Ice Queen; 2, Kelly Leigh School of Dancing, Kelly's Army; 3, Jokers CC, Jokers'' Mucky Tails. Majorettes: 1, Stardust; 2, Merriott; 3, Trojan Twirlers.
