The other Glastonbury festival: Town illuminated by thousands of bulbs and welcomes hundreds of glittering floats as part of annual Somerset carnival The carnival season, which ended in the Somerset town last night, is widely regarded as one of the largest illuminated processions in the world. A trail of weird and wonderful floats parade through towns across the West Country in November as part of a tradition which dates back to the Gunpowder Plot on the Houses of Parliament in 1605. The week-long spectacle can draw crowds of up to 150,000 and sees hundreds of entries from across the country. Dedicated members of the numerous carnival clubs who take part design and build carts in secrecy, using thousands of pounds of their own money in a bid to win awards for the best floats. The specially-designed floats measure up to 100ft long, feature state-of-the-art electronics and hydraulics, and are decorated with tens of thousands of light bulbs. This year's bizarre array of themes saw the appearance of Gremlins, hippies, ghosts, apes and jesters. Lights: A members of the Gremlins Carnival Club stand on their illuminated cart, Xtinct, as they take part in the Somerset Carnival Colourful: A face-painted member of the British Flag Club rides on the float which is decorated in an array of symbols for the Autumn carnival season Peace out: A girl from the Kipling Juvenile Carnival Club, dressed as a hippie, rides on their cart with a flower dress and matching headband Creepy: Even though Haloween was last month, this man from the Westonzoyland Carnival Club decided to keep the horror theme going through November Renowned: The parade through Somerset in November is widely regarded as one of the largest of its kind in the world Futuristic: The Rise of the Bugs float by the Eclipse Carnival Club glides through the town, covered in bright lights and graffiti Bizarre: Two face-painted men clad in headdresses and fur-collared coats ride the Globe Carnival Club's Headhunters float Transformation: Performers go to great lengths to create the most detailed costumes possible, with wigs, face paint and fake facial hair a common sight Primitive: The Gremlins Carnival Club, who represent the mythical creatures which supposedly sabotage aircrafts, cover their float in hundreds of light bulbs while their members dress up in cave men outfits Spectacle: The major regional event can see crowds of up to 150,000 people at some towns History: The event dates back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 and has been run almost every year since Shadows: A woman with blackened eyes and a purple dress sits looking glum on the side of a cart Disguise: A performer uses brown and white face paint to fit in with the theme of their float Performers: Glittering dancers in extravagant costumes follow the carts on foot Precautions: Technicians are required to make sure the lights are properly fitted and are ready to ensure there are no technical failures during the parade Warrior: A member of the Globe Carnival Club shows off his feather headdress, complete with a war paint disguise Expensive: The floats often cost thousands of pounds and are funded completely by carnival club members' fund-raising ventures Competition: The clubs jostle for prizes that are awarded in several categories at each carnival Evil: A woman stands in front of a dinosaur head decorated with a set of jagged teeth Eyes: A youngster from the Toppers Juvenile Carnival Club uses special contact lenses to make her pupils look smaller Spectators: Hundreds in the crowd also wore hats and styled their hair to get into the carnival spirit Design: The Globe Carnival Club decorated their cart in skulls and markings similar to those used by the Aztecs Getting ready: A man has only just started having his make up applied as he waits to board his cart