Notting Hill Carnival, Street carnival in Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom
The Notting Hill Carnival is a street festival in a London neighborhood that happens yearly in August and celebrates Afro-Caribbean culture. The event spreads across several streets with stages, food vendors, parades of costumed participants, and live music ranging from reggae to ska and samba.
The festival began in 1966 as a response to racial tensions, created by the local Afro-Caribbean community to celebrate their cultures. It developed into one of Europe's largest street festivals and became recognized as a symbol of Afro-British culture in the country.
The Notting Hill Carnival was created by Afro-Caribbean communities and remains their primary way of celebrating shared identity in London. Visitors encounter music, dance styles, and clothing traditions from the Caribbean throughout the event on the streets.
The festival runs for three days on the last weekend of August and is free to attend. Many streets around the area close to traffic, so using public transportation and arriving early helps you avoid crowds.
The festival traces its roots to Trinidad and Tobago, where freed slaves celebrated with music and costumes in the 1800s. Caribbean immigrants brought this tradition to London, where it grew into one of the world's largest events of its kind.
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