Notting Hill

Notting-Hill.co.uk - Notting Hill Carnival

The Notting Hill Carnival takes place each August Bank Holiday and has done so since 1966 and includes a massive celebration of the streets of West London. It is the largest street festival in Europe and usually spans over 20 miles of West London streets with the average attendance of over one million people.

Originally, the Notting Hill Carnival began as a small community festival that was organized by the West Indian community in Notting Hill, but it has grown to be a fully fledged Caribbean carnival that is celebrated by millions from all over the globe each year.

One of the most loved parts of the Notting Hill Carnival is the parade which starts on Monday morning, the official Bank Holiday, and visitors line the streets to watch colourful floats wind through the streets of West London from Great Western Road to Chepstow Road to Westbourne Road to Ladbroke Grove. After the parade is finished people crowd the streets partying all night long.

Other events that are regular parts of the Notting Hill Carnival include the steel band competition on Saturday to open the event and the costume competition that takes place on Sunday which is traditionally considered to be the kid's part of the event.

Throughout the event loud speakers line the areas of Notting Hill so that steel drum music fills the streets throughout the entire carnival and thousands of stalls line the streets as well offering authentic Caribbean cuisine choices for everyone.

The very first carnival was meant to celebrate the end of the slave trade and slavery in general with an attempt to highlight the musical ability of steel drum musicians which is why the steel drum competition is still an important part of the carnival today. The Carnival is not just limited to steel band music however, as it is common to hear anything from reggae to R&B to house and funk music throughout the festivities. In recent years artists from Wyclef Jean to Burning Steel have take the main stage at the Notting Hill Carnival.

Outlandish floats and colourful costumes were inspired by the West Indians need to celebrate as parties and festivals were banned during Caribbean slavery. Thus, the Notting Hill Carnival emphasis dance and song which is expressed through mask wearing and costumes that can be seen in the parade and on the streets throughout the entire Carnival weekend. Officially, the costumed day is Saturday which is known officially as the Mas (short for masquerade). Smell is another vibrant sense that will be awakened at the Notting Hill carnival with historical favourites such as patties, jerk chicken, and curries lining the streets from hundreds of small stalls.

Officials of the Notting Hill Carnival suggest that to avoid crowds it is best to leave early and arrive early. For safety purposes it is also advisable to meet your family and friends before heading to the Carnival and arranging a meeting place at the Carnival so that if you get separated you can find each other again later.