Notting Hill Carnival is held annually at Notting Hill, London, on every August Bank Holiday. Celebrated since 1966, it was started by West Indian immigrants as a local festival. The immigrants had to face racial discrimination, unemployment, poor housing. In response to these problems, dances were planned to gather all the immigrants in London. During this period, the steel band music was played in the Earls Court, which sowed the seeds for Notting Hill Carnival. However, the five disciplines that make up the carnival today are Mas’, Soca, Calypso, Steelband and Static Sound Systems which play a major part in the two-day carnival.

The carnival parade stretches three miles of Notting Hill Street. It takes places in Notting Hill, just a stone’s throw away from Paddington. The procession is brightly colored with people wearing outlandish costumes. Parade takes place on each day, the first day being less crowded but the second with groups from as far as South America, Africa and Caribbean region makes the procession lively with music, dance and costume in spectacular style.

The Carnival is the largest multicultural festival in Europe. The main procession in the carnival includes around 70 music bands, steel drum band plus hundreds of stalls of exotic foods, arts andcrafts lined along the street. Music which is at the heart of the carnival and traditional as well as modern music is played for miles around. Historically, Soca, Calypso, Steel Band were played in the carnival but recently music from Reggae to R&B, Funk, House and many more is also played in the carnival. The live stages also feature performances from local bands, international artists like Eddie Grant, Courtney Pine, Burning Spear and amany more. It also plays a host to 45 licensed static bands. All the sound systems in carnival are authorized by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster in conjunction with the British Association of Sound Systems.

The traditional costume of the carnival has been Mas. But from the recent years, professional costume makers start working on designing intricate costumes for months in advance. The band must have 30 people in costumes accompanied by sound system and steel plan. The team constructs its performance around a theme, which can focus on any issues.

The Carnival also introduces us to exotic cuisines like jerk chicken, rice and peas and plum punch, curried goat and many more. For people are want to go light food hot dogs and chips are available.

If visiting for the first time it will be ideal to go on the first day as there will be less crowd zand more space to move around. London Mayor, Ken Livingstone for promoting art and culture has announced Hyde Park for Caribbean showcase.

Venue Details:
Portobello Road Market and Golborne Road Market,
Portobello Road,
London.

Access:The nearest tube station is the Ladbroke Grove tube.