Portishead Carnival History
Portishead Carnival has been a major event in the town’s calendar for more than 100 years.
It used to be run and funded by the local council and events were held at the Lake Grounds. Eventually the seafront beauty spot became just the starting point for the event.
Over the years funding for carnival unfortunately dried up and the event was taken over by a variety of different groups and volunteers, including a long stint by Portishead Round Table; however as volunteer numbers dwindled, the event became smaller and smaller and there were serious concerns Portishead Carnival would be no more.
It was at this time, around 2002, following a plea from the town council, two local ladies - Wendy Yandell and Jemma Cooper – volunteered to take on the event and with passion and vision they brought the town’s carnival back from the brink, restoring it to the spectacle it once was and more. With no experience of event management and no funds whatsoever in place for the future of the town’s carnival, Jemma and Wendy worked tirelessly to take the event that had been reduced to almost nothing, to new heights.
Driven by their enthusiasm, the ladies ensured the event hit the headlines year after year. Twice they organised a Red Arrows display across the skies of our town to celebrate carnival, they spent weeks and weeks securing sponsorship and raising funds and in true community spirit once all the expenses had been covered, the carnival made donations to good causes in the town with the Christmas Lights always receiving a generous sum.
What Jemma and Wendy did for Portishead Carnival was nothing short of a miracle, the processions got bigger and bigger, the bands got more and more exciting and more cups were added to the awards as special people were recognised for what they brought to carnival. Even when a main sponsor pulled out days before the event and when the heaven’s opened, Jemma and Wendy spurred everyone on so that dancing in the rain became as enjoyable as dancing in the sunshine!
After a short break Jemma and Wendy were planning the return of Portishead Carnival when covid struck. Having experienced life changing events in recent years, both ladies decided they had given carnival their all. In 2024 they now pass the carnival baton on to a new team and we hope Jemma and Wendy are proud of the robust legacy they are leaving. The new team has big boots to fill but thankfully the reputation carnival gained over the past 20 years will hold them in good stead, not to mention the start up funds that have been passed on to kick start carnival 2025.