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The US Sun
Notting Hill Carnival revellers hit the streets in fabulous feathers & throw paint at each other as party gets underway
By Henry Martin,
2024-08-25
ONE million people are descending on west London for Notting Hill Carnival this weekend with revellers dancing through the streets.
The festival is a fixture in London ‘s cultural calendar and attracts similar numbers each year.
Crowds gather in west London for the Notting Hill Festival London News Pictures Children’s Day is held on Sunday, featuring family-friendly activities and a parade London News Pictures The festival is a fixture in London’s cultural calendar and attracts similar numbers each year. RED/Shutterstock Kinetika Bloco taking part in the Children’s Day Parade, part of the Notting Hill Carnival celebration in west London Jeff Moore/PA Wire Revellers at Notting Hill Festival today Jeff Moore/PA Wire It is one of the longest-running street parties in the UK Guy Bell/REX/Shutterstock The carnival is the biggest of its kind in Europe Alamy Live News Revellers make a splash at the Notting Hill Carnival in west London Story Picture Agency Paint the town… pink? Revellers hit the streets for Notting Hill Carnival Story Picture Agency Carnivalgoers in west London today Matt Crossick/PA Carnivalgoers in front of Notting Hill cornershop, Keyham Local Matt Crossick/PA Media Assignments
It is one of the longest-running street parties in the UK and celebrates Caribbean culture with vividly costumed performers taking part in a parade through the streets with dancing and music.
The carnival is the biggest of its kind in Europe and is billed by organisers as “the greatest community-led event on the planet”, taking place every August bank holiday weekend.
On Saturday, performers competed in Notting Hill Carnival’s Panorama evening, which is the UK’s biggest steelband competition and sees five bands play a ten-minute composition from memory with no sheet music allowed.
Children’s Day is held on Sunday, featuring family-friendly activities and a parade, where youngsters in colourful costumes are encouraged to dance in the streets.
It is sometimes known as Family Day.
The Adults’ Parade is held on Monday, described by organisers as the climax of the carnival with “party vibes”.
Transport for London (TfL) urged people travelling to the carnival to plan their journeys in advance as it warned some stations could be much busier than usual.
The Labour Party described the event – which was first held in the 1960s – as a “vibrant celebration of Caribbean culture and black history through music, art and dance” in a social media post on Saturday.
The carnival began in 1964 as a way for Afro-Caribbean communities to celebrate their cultures and traditions.
Its roots lie in the Caribbean carnivals of the early 19th century.
Carnivals were a particularly strong tradition in Trinidad and celebrated the abolition of slavery and the slave trade.
Having been forbidden to hold festivals during periods of slavery Trinidadians dressed in costumes that mimicked European fashions.
The first Carnival held in west London aimed to showcase the steel band musicians who played in Earl’s Court.
Revellers have flocked to west London for Notting Hill Festival Reuters Revellers attend Notting Hill Carnival, in London Reuters The Children’s Day Parade at the Notting Hill Carnival celebration Jeff Moore/PA Wire Transport for London (TfL) urged people travelling to the carnival to plan their journeys in advance Sinai Noor/REX/Shutterstock Participants taking part in the Children’s Day Parade, part of the Notting Hill Carnival celebration in west London over the Summer Bank Holiday weekend Jeff Moore/PA Wire Revellers throw paint at each other in the street at the festival Story Picture Agency Dancers and children parade on Family Day at the 56th Notting Hill Carnival in west London London News Pictures Revellers out for the Notting Hill Carnival today Story Picture Agency Crowds are gathering at Notting Hill Gate to celebrate the vibrant carnival Rex Features Revellers enjoying the festival Story Picture Agency A man stands outside a house selling drinks at Notting Hill Carnival Getty Images - Getty
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