Street festivals, carnivals and parades have always been a way for a community to express themselves freely. It’s also a way for people to come together, irrespective of their differences, put everything else aside and simply have a great time.
The best and most distinctive part of the Notting Hill Carnival is that children are a key part of it. The carnival lasts for two days – Sunday and the next bank holiday – and Sunday has a lot of activities, including a much shortened parade, for children and young people, where they have a marvelous chance to have a lot of fun.
Notting Hill Carnival is the initiative of the Caribbean population. It has been conducted every year since 1965.
Since 1976, though, the involvement of children became more prominent; the carnival has been fairly peaceful and conducted in the best of spirits. The children and young people dress up in elaborate and fun costumes, sticking to the Caribbean theme, and sport painted faces. People with disabilities and families are encouraged to participate now, at least on Sunday, which is the Children’s Day. They display and carry art that they create and show off their talents, and have an interesting and enlightening time.
The carnival might officially begin on Sunday, but Saturday is the Panorama National Champions of Steel competition. Steelpan bands from all over the country participate in this event, which is conducted in Hyde Park from 2007. Till then, the venue had been Kensal Road. Notting Hill Carnival has often been compared to Karneval de Kulturen, Berlin.
Once the children have had their fun, on Monday, the real Carnival Parade takes place, which takes a much longer route, through Great Western Road, Chepstow Road, Westbourne Grove and Ladbroke Grove.
Though this carnival was originally for the Caribbean population, now a variety of cultures, mostly through art and music, are represented, though the beats of the Calypso can still be heard.
More than any one culture, Notting Hill Carnival has come to become a noisy, good natured, fun and music filled celebration of people – just people.
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