Notting Hill Carnival was a huge free street festival that celebrated the Caribbean community. It was the biggest street festival in Europe and the second-largest Carnival in the world after Rio. It brings a large quality of street food, outstanding beats, extravagant costumes, and fabulous parade processions.
Since 1966 we have been celebrating this festival, although this year it was the first IRL Carnival since 2019 because of Covid 19. This year the atmosphere was electrifying and people were back on the West London street and there were more sound systems and Mas bands.
Notting Hill Carnival took place on the August bank holiday weekend. It happened from 27th to 29th August 2022. Most of the actions took place on the 28th and 29th of August.
Notting Hill was into the streets of Westbourne Park, Ladbroke Grove, Bayswater, and Westbourne Grove. If you are interested, take a London Virtual Tour.
The roots of Notting Hill Carnival are the Caribbean carnivals of the early 19th century. A tradition in Trinidad celebrated the abolition of the slave trade and slavery. The first Carnival showcased the steel band musicians that played in the Earls Court of London every weekend. The bands paraded in the streets of Notting Hill, and they drew black residents into the streets that reminded them of the Caribbean homes they left.
During the abolition, there were strong elements of parody in the music and dance Trinidadians performed. During slavery, they were forbidden to hold festivals on their own, so now they took advantage of the freedom of the end of slavery. They used to dress in costumes that imitated the European fashion of former masters and also whitened their faces with flour or wore white masks. They made this a tradition, and it continued in the costume-making even in today’s Notting Hill Carnival. The actual name for this Carnival is Mas which is derived from Masquerade. Take a Walking Tour in London.
The basic things you need to know:
The Central line was open for the whole weekend for Queensway, Holland Park, and Notting Hill Gate, and the Circle lines and Hammersmith served Westbourne Park, Latimer Road, and Ladbroke Grove.
These roads around the carnival area were pedestrianized, for which buses were re-routed and terminated.
Drinking alcohol is not legal on public transport, but this is not the thing when it is about Carnival.
Carnival Culture in the Park
It took place from 17th to 20th August at Opera Holland Park, 37 Pembroke Road, London W8 6PW. The four nights saw the world-leading Calypso artists and steelpan players performing. On 17th August- Steelband Summer in Concert, on 18th August- Calypso Masquerade, 19th August- Pan Jazz and An Evening with King David Rudder Calypsonian Extraordinaire.
Panorama
It took place on 27th August from 6 pm to 11 pm at the Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, W10 3DH. It is a traditional competition of steel band music. Six steel bands played a ten-minute composition from memory this year, so no sheet music was allowed.
Notting Hill Carnival-Jouvert
It took place on 28th August from 6 am to 9 am. It started and ended on Canal Way in Ladbroke Grove, W10. It was a great start to the carnival festivities. Jouvert allowed all music lovers to rock in the streets with African drums or steel bands. The procession started and finished at Canal way, Ladbroke Grove W14, next to Sainsbury’s car park.
Notting Hill Carnival-Children’s Day
It took place on 28th August from 10 am to 8.30 pm across W2/ W9 / W10 / W11 in West London at the Notting Hill, Westbourne Park, Ladbroke Grove, and Maida Vale areas. The whole team was wearing extravagant costumes at the Parade for Children. They whirl, spin, and twirl along the carnival route to the rhythms given by the steel bands and sound systems. People saw many amazing acts and heard them on the World Music Stage at the Powis Square venue. Tasty Caribbean food, drink, and many more things were on every corner throughout the day.
Notting Hill Carnival- The Grand Finale
It took place on 26th August from 10 am to 8.30 pm across W2/ W9 / W10 / W11 in West London at the Notting Hill, Westbourne Park, Ladbroke Grove, and Maida Vale areas. The Grand Finale showcased several vibrant colors and 60 bands in extravagant costumes performed on the rhythms of the steel bands and mobile sound systems. It was an entertaining show by the UK Calypsonians, visiting international artists, soca artists, and other acts. In addition, there were diverse, tasty food attractions, music, and other activities.
This year Notting Hill Carnival goes eco-friendly, and a fully electric eco truck was used in the Parade funded by NHC partner Spotify for the first time. It debuted this year at Glastonbury and aimed to reduce the Carnival’s carbon footprint and noise pollution on the road. You can trust the Buckingham palace guide to visit the attractive places there.
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