Tour a Londra in Italiano? Clicca qui
Celebrating the Carnival’s establishment and ongoing development; Caribbean culture; artistic talents and creativity; enhancement of community spirit and innovative platforms embracing cultural diversity.
2019 Notting Hill Carnival will begin at 9:00am 24th Aug –
ends at 10:00pm 26th Aug, 2019
All times are in Eastern Time.
It happens every year. London sets aside the Sunday and Monday encompassing their ‘bank holiday’ on Monday for one of the world’s largest street carnivals; Notting Hill Carnival. Each year, close to one million people attend this two-day celebration of Caribbean heritage on the streets of Notting Hill. Celebrations include costume-clad Caribbean’s dancing to traditional reggae, meringue, calypso, rumba, and zouk music, and street vendors selling foods like seasoned jerk chicken, callaloo, and traditional goat stew. Many Caribbean foods have roots from cuisines of Europe, America, China, and Africa.
The Caribbean is a favorite vacation destination and comprises many islands that are all part of a huge archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. These tropical, beautiful islands were the contention of many European countries who each wanted ownership of a part of this gorgeous region. The English acquired St. Kiss, Barbados, Antigua, and other islands in the 17th century. It’s common for many peoples of the Caribbean islands to reside in England.
The first mention of a Caribbean celebration was in 1959 when a carnival was held at St. Pancras Town Hall in London to settle down the race relations between indigenous British residents and Caribbean natives. Trinidadian, Claudia Jones, is known as “the mother of the Notting Hill Carnival” for her promotion of this first carnival in The West Indian Gazette, a black motif newspaper. As the editor of the newspaper, Jones featured the fantastical performances of the Mighty Terror singing the calypso and a Caribbean Carnival Queen beauty contest.
That first event in 1959 spurred on the yearly carnival that includes a large parade with speakers lining its route sharing Caribbean history, colorful and vivid representations of Caribbean traditions, and countless displays of the Technicolor wares of this island nation. Revelry includes parties, foods, and tropical drinks, many centering on favorite ingredients like rum.
This annual celebration in held in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is organized and managed by the people of British West Indian communities and it is a significant happening for the Black British culture in London. Close to one million people attend this extravaganza of Caribbean culture and in 2006, the United Kingdom voted to add the Notting Hill Carnival to the famous list of icons of England.
PROGRAMS
This year’s Notting Hill Carnival will take place on August 25th, 26th and 27th with Saturday, August 25th being a Panorama; a steel band music competition complete with street food and dancing held at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park from 6:00 to 10:00 pm.
Sunday, August 26th will start early, at 6:00 am, with a traditional carnival opening performed in the Caribbean Islands called J’Ouvert. This events main attraction is a parade starting and ending on Canal Way in Ladbroke Grove W10 comprised of revelers donned with mug and brightly colored paints. A Children’s Parade will stroll through the streets during the day and at night as children dance and perform in ornate costumes, swirling the brilliant-colored clothing. Sunday is the best day for families with young children with smaller crowds of people and plenty of kid-inspired floats in the parade.
All day and into the night Sunday you can catch live music on stages in Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park and Powis Square and sample incredible foods from vendors while listening to all kinds of Caribbean inspired music from 38 static sound systems.
As always, the Grand Finale will be on Monday, August 27th with a culmination of dancing, street performances, steel drum music groups, and the Notting Hill Grand Finale Parade. All along the route you’ll find scrumptious treats, foods, drinks, and plenty of entertainment.
To enjoy this carnival, plan on wearing comfortable shoes as you will do a lot of walking through the festive streets. Closed flat shoes are the best. By the end of each day, the streets will be strewn with party affects and empty containers. Attendees are encouraged to wear accessories to show their support and love for the Notting Hill Carnival like whistles, crazy styled hats, large jewelry, and whatever suites your fancy.
After Carnival you may come back home with a dirty carpet. Using a great vacuum for thick carpet can resolve your issue.
Pack a few items in your bag or backpack for the day; tissues, hand sanitizer, wet-wipes, bottles of water, sun screen, sun glasses, and a carnival map so you can make your way around without running into barricaded roads. And if you aren’t exhausted by Monday night and your feet aren’t throbbing, there will be many after-parties in Kensington and Chelsea and other areas in London.
Notting Hill Carnival is free! You don’t have to buy tickets or pay to get in. Enjoy all this world- renowned and famous street carnival has to offer!
Official Website:
https://www.thelondonnottinghillcarnival.com/
