Notting Hill Carnival Festival Events

NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL

Held every August Bank Holiday since 1966, the Notting Hill Carnival is one of the largest festival celebration's of its kind in Europe. Every year the streets of West London come alive with the sounds and smells of the Notting Hill Carnival.

It originally started as a local festival set up by the West Indian community of the Notting Hill area. It is now a full blown carnival, attracting people from all over the Globe. With the most astonishing floats, music from the traditional steal bands, the glorious smells from the food stalls, and the exquisite costumes, the Notting Hill Carnival is one of London's most exciting annual events.

The Notting hill Carnival used to start on the Saturday, with the Steel Drum Band competition. On Sunday it is children's day, when the costume prizes are awarded. On the Bank Holiday the main parade takes place and it generally begins on Great Western Road, then winds its way along Chepstowe Road, on to Westbourne Grove and then Ladbroke Grove. In the evening the floats leave the procession, and many people carry on partying at the many Notting Hill after parties.

Many of the costumes take weeks if not even months to make, and if you are attending either the Notting Hill carnival or your local festival during this August bank holiday weekend, you may need a large yellow pom pom or a long 2m black feather boa, to help you celebrate this festive occasion.
Also just remember that for safety reasons the 2011 Notting Hill carnival will start at 9am and end at 7am this year, due to the recent riots around London and the rest of the UK.