London: Notting Hill Carnival is back after 2 years
Newslooks- LONDON (AP)
The annual Notting Hill Carnival has returned to the streets of London for the first time since 2019, with more than 1 million people expected to take in the music, spectacular parades, dancing and food offerings at Europe’s largest street party on Sunday and Monday.
Performers attend the Family Day at the Notting Hill Carnival in London, Sunday Aug. 28, 2022. The Carnival returned to the streets for the first time in two years, after it was thwarted by the pandemic. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
The carnival, which celebrates Caribbean culture at the end of August every year, had to take place online for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Performers attend the Family Day at the Notting Hill Carnival in London, Sunday Aug. 28, 2022. The Carnival returned to the streets for the first time in two years, after it was thwarted by the pandemic. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
The carnival traces its history back to 1958, when Trinidadian human rights activist Claudia Jones began organizing a gathering to unify the community after a series of racially motivated attacks on West Indians in west London’s Notting Hill neighborhood.
Performers attend the Family Day at the Notting Hill Carnival in London, Sunday Aug. 28, 2022. The Carnival returned to the streets for the first time in two years, after it was thwarted by the pandemic. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
The event has grown from a festival drawing several hundred people to a huge annual street party, with tens of thousands of performers in the colorful parade and more than 30 sound systems.
Young performers participate, during the children’s parade on Family Day at the Notting Hill Carnival which returned to the streets for the first time in two years, after it was thwarted by the pandemic, in London, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
Celebrations began on Saturday night, as more than 1,000 people gathered to watch a steel band competition in west London.
Performers dance during the children’s parade at the Notting Hill Carnival in London, Sunday Aug. 28, 2022. The Carnival returned to the streets for the first time in two years, after it was thwarted by the pandemic. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
Crowds of young children blowing whistles danced down the streets with their parents on Sunday, traditionally a more family-friendly day than Monday. Some children stood on the doorsteps of their houses waving Jamaican flags.
Performers attend the Family Day at the Notting Hill Carnival in London, Sunday Aug. 28, 2022. The Carnival returned to the streets for the first time in two years, after it was thwarted by the pandemic. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
Pepe Francis heads the Ebony Steelband Trust, which has been performing at the carnival for decades.
Carnival-goers gather during the Family Day at the Notting Hill Carnival which returned to the streets for the first time in two years, after it was thwarted by the pandemic, in London, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
“Since the band has started, I’m on my fifth generation of people and there’s been a lot of changes,” he said. “But our members look forward to carnival every year and practice takes place regularly from year to year.”
Performers dance during the children’s parade on Family Day at the Notting Hill Carnival in London, Sunday Aug. 28, 2022. The Carnival returned to the streets for the first time in two years, after it was thwarted by the pandemic. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
“A lot of people have been waiting for it to come back,” Francis added.
