The Carnival
Moreton Carnival has been running for around 90 years (have a read of it's history below) and remains a highly popular event with activities leading up to the grand procession.
For 2016 the carnival will be on Thursday August the 25th.
A Brief History Of Our Carnival
According to George Friend, Mortonians have been known to join in any entertainment with great enthusiasm throughout the ages.
On Fair Days during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the town was inundated with small booths which contained peep-shows. A booth was used for wrestling matches, and there were hand organs, dancing bears, dancing dogs, girls with tambourines and monkeys could be seen for 3d.
At the first indication of news of coronations, jubilees or peace treaties, arrangements were put into place for choirs, accompanied by many instruments, to sing songs throughout the different streets, even at 2 o'clock in the morning. The church bells were rung throughout the day and collections were made to purchase a hogshead of cider (54 gallons) for the poor in order that they might join in the celebrations. Many houses were decorated and arches, pyramids ovals and circles were formed of laurel, fully illuminated, with sentences such as 'Peace and Plenty', 'Britannia Rejoice' and 'Success to Trade' hung within them.
The most spectacular of all the rejoicings must surely have been the celebration of the great, but short-lived victory over Napoleon Bonaparte and the French armies in 1814. There was a long procession which included the local dignitaries, Many bands, and representations of the armed forces. Also, representatives of all the ancient crafts and trades, which were then practised in Moreton, with lavishly decorated symbols of their craft – even to, 'four sheep shearers in a cart, shearing their sheep'. After the procession the whole of the inhabitants (1936 people) sat down at a dinner on Greenhill. There were four tables each 200ft long surrounding an enclosure for music, with dancing at the sides. At each corner was a hogshead of cider. One can imagine the sides of beef and perhaps a sheep or two being roasted for the occasion. It must have been a real feast.
This must have been the forerunner of the local carnivals which were held annually up to 1920 in the winter and lasted one day only. They were held in aid of the local Cottage Hospital, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Hospital and the Eye Infirmary. In 1921 Carnival day was brought forward to the fourth Thursday in August where it has remained ever since.
There were no Carnivals during the years 1940-1945, and in 1949 after the Hospitals were taken over by the Health Service , The proceeds were given to local organisations. It was later found that there were so many events which could be held to support the Carnival that it was made into a Carnival Week, with something different happening every day. A great deal of work is always put into the carnival activities both by the small committee with many helpers and by those who decorate lorries, trailers, walking entries, children & horses with everyone taking an enormous amount of trouble to provide some sort of entertainment for the benefit of the funds. The town is decorated with flags & bunting and there is dancing in the streets around the Square.