On Carnival Sunday Mayor of London Boris Johnson accepts the Olympic flag from the Mayor of Beijing as the 2008 Olympics conclude [more]

 On Carnival Sunday the Mayor Boris Johnson can  be watched on a massive 25 square metre screen at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park in Beijing accepting the Olympic flag during an keynote ceremony between the Mayors. Imagine, this as the first of four years where the eyes of world turn to preparations by London to host the 2012 Olympics. Afterall the City of London represents the greatest hope of many for expressing an inclusive multicultural vision and what better way than playing the  great global host.  

The London Mayor as of May Day 2008 told reporters referring to Trafalgar Square: "It will be a great day to party in London. The good news here is that there is generous private sector sponsorship for a wonderful party in central London on the same weekend as the Notting Hill carnival. So apart from Beijing, it's hard to think of a better place to be."

Thus an appropriate title to the 2008 Notting Hill Carnival is "Welcoming the World" since the next four years will be measured against o tie the two themes together, there will be a , which will broadcast the handover events in Beijing and London alongside live footage from across the whole carnival site.

Plan your trip to experience the palpable electricity of the community getting ready for the Carnival in August as it explodes on the weekend defined by the end of summer Bank Holiday on the last Monday in August.  Visit our London  Carnival   or the awesome 2008 Bands page as the aforum has gone archival while we strive to add the latest news to self-updating links at the bottom of our often updated London Image Server T update on the historic evolution of the Carnival   

Notting Hill Carnival by portowebbo.co.uk 
This extensive local on-line guide offers year-round coverage of the Carnival and has on occasion published views opposing views regarding the future of the Carnival

Search their site for "Notting Hill Carnival" (find over 100)|| google search (find over 2000 )
 BBC London will be broadcasting exclusive scenes from the Notting Hill Carnival on Sunday  (family day) and Monday (main parade). 

  Search their archives by google  (600+)||Row erupts over 2003 Carnival  by guardian.co.uk|| 2001 is their best home page  ||1999

timeout.com  use their search || google them for "notting hill carnival"  Despite publishing a thick annual guides to the Notting Hill Carnival  there's very little on-line Carnival presence and it does not last long anyway. 

   socanews.com
Spreading Our Culture Around
Britain's only publication devoted to Caribbean music and culture. UK wide Carnival coverage  and exclusive insight into the stars of Caribbean Carnival.   Socanews is funny about retiring its content quickly and sometimes has none, like for the first half of Aug-2004

Official Web Sites 

nottinghillcarnival.biz/ 
With the new 2008 London Mayor there is an expectation of new Carnival management which will give us a website of some value

Carnival Official Guide
 "the council" Royal Borough Kensington & Chelsea || "carnival" on rbkc.gov.uk by google

"The Council does not organise Carnival we facilitate the event. We recognise that Carnival has a big impact on the lives of those who live and work in Notting Hill and surrounding areas. We will work closely with Westminster City Council, the Carnival organisers LNHC Ltd and the Metropolitan Police to ensure that Carnival is safe and that residents get a fair deal." 2008 website

	Public Toilets  provide 266 Chemical toilets and 5 pissoir/urinal type toilets for male visitors.   This is triple the number from when the Council took over in 2001
	Sound Systems All sound systems are authorized by the council in conjunctions with the British Association of Sound Systems (Bass). The 40 or so sound systems will be shut down promptly at 7pm Download and print a Map of the 2006 Sound Systems [PDF file] (File size 1.1Mb) List of Sound Systems Locations 2007
	Parade & Security The Council now grants permits to about 70 bands with floats and/or mobile sound systems in the main procession.... The police do close down the procession by 9.00pm on the Monday.  Over 5000 police and other security are deployed on each of the 2 Carnival days. The Metropolitan Police use 80 CCTV cameras to give the force a "birds-eye view" over the whole route 2006 Road Closures and Parking Controls.

The Rest

notting-hill-carnival-street-party by 2camels.com
mostly fotos  

thisislondon.co.uk || Search their site for Notting Hill Carnival by google
the former long-time star of Carnaval.com's web-guide ( 1996-2001) has removed access to its archives and no longer says much about de Carnival  either.
Archives
Carnival 2004

Events Carnaval is as much a season and a feeling as an event. Find your countdown events here. 

Grand Costume Gala
At  Alexandra Palace Getting there
11am-5pm: MAS CAMP with free workshops in costume making, mask making, demonstrations and exhibition. Create your own costume and be part of the show. Tickets available on the door

Awards

2006 Adult Mas Band & Panorama Awards 2005 Carnival Awards   2004 London Carnival Awards 2005 Adult Bands Awards 2003 Mas Band Awards 2003 Panorama Champion is Mangrove 2002 Notting Carnival Awards

2001 Notting Hill Carnival Awards Awards Carnival 2000 1999 Notting Hill Carnival Awards 1999 Notting Hill Carnival Gala Costume Awards 1998 Notting Hill Carnival Awards inc- Olympia Costumes 1997 Carnival Awards

Parade Route
Map of Carnival Route 2007  our low K pop-up version its nicely printable when available
In 2007  London Mayor Ken Livingstone succeeded in moving his reconstituted parade committee to top position in planning the Carnival but the much discussed route changes remain just that as you can expect to find parade revelers in the same spaces for 2007. However the Hype Park expansion in 2007 should be seen as just the first stage of letting the Carnival grow as relieving the congestion in the Notting Hill.
As the Mayor's attention turns to getting ready for the 2012 London Olympic Games the science of celebration should bring lots of new opportunities to the Carnival Community.

 LondonSchoolofSamba.co.uk  at aforum
The London School of Samba
This venerable (1984) original continues to lead the way. Their bateria (percussion orchestra) will include many of the top players from all over Europe. Affiliated with the great G.R.E.S. Mocidade of Rio.
paraisosamba.co.uk/ Dance Web 
mega LSS pics but not official site

ParaisoSamba.co.uk   
In 2005 Paraiso was declared champion of the Notting Hill Carnival, Paraiso was founded in early 2002 by Mestre Esteves da Silva and Henrique da Silva, with a group of passionate sambistas who enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to create a British samba school true to samba's Rio roots. Paraíso's symbol is a phoenix rising from a pandeiro (large tambourine). The phoenix represents strength in the form of a bird rising from the ashes to give new hope.

 RhythmsofResistance.co.uk/ 
Only Music Can Save Us Now
formed as part of the UK Earth First action against the IMF in Prague in September 2000

Yaa Asantewaa Arts and Community Centre new web URL www.yaaasantewaa.com/ ||MultiMap
the home of Black Arts in London The Community Centre.in North Westminster funded exclusively for arts activities. (No dance classes listed at website)

Samba
Brazil Events in London in aforum 
There's plenty featuring both the local and immigrant population. Visit our compilation page to optimize your
 
Lots of hot stuff & often updated
London's Clubs 
covering Brazilian  Dance in London (last update Oct02)

Salsa
Latin-dance and Ball-room dance can merge in the UK as Mr. Wonderful's Directory demonstrates
 
salsanation.co.uk is presenting the UK International Salsa Congress Sept 20-22 2002 A festival of dance

Samba-Salsa frame menu  || What's new
This is one of our most popular pages featuring global and music links 
LATIN Salsa in London & the UK

Carnival at the Tabernacle
 The vibrant steelpan youth program and UK center for Steel Pan was based at the Tabernacle Arts Centre. The Tabernacle is back as the much loved multi-cultural arts center at Powis Square have still not been announced. [more by nottinghilltv]
 

Ebony.org.uk
Europe's premiere steel band... Ebony Steelband has won the Panorama Competition at Notting Hill Carnival more than any other band and often tours the world for competitions and youth exchange proprams.  Founded in '68 they also offer accredited courses in music arts.
In 2007 Ebony added another crown and has now won 17 Panoramas and a record breaking 9 consecutively. The band played Len Boogsie Sharp's ‘Sharing Licks’.

They are consummate storytellers who stand alone on stage and have to hold the crowd's attention. Like rap, a later and very different way of overlaying the rhythms of real language on to music .
New in 2008 the contest is at the Tabernacle also known as the Carnival Village . The new Carnival Village is running a full programme of events leading up to the Notting Hill Carnival. For more information and to book tickets visit www.carnivalvillage.org.uk

London Calypso Contest  ||UK Calypso Music of Trinidad & Tobago || Two of many our link sections for Caribbean Carnival Music

LondonCalypsoTent.co.uk 
produced by The  ABC (Association of British  Calypsonians )

Fridays  in August 
Doors open 7pm, Showtime 8pm sharp. Contact to confirm 
The Tent opens about  26th July and thereafter runs every Friday concluding on Carnival Friday
more

 Errol Brown aka Lord Cloak has more titles than anyone else. The regular cast includes Lord Cloak, Cleopatra, Sister Sandra, Totally Talibah, Mr International, Admiral Jack, Helena B, Iguana, Sheldon Skeete and Mighty Explorer, Special guests from Trinidad and Tobabo are also featured.  2005 News || 2004 news

Calypso Contest was held since '92  at Yaa Asantewaa Arts and Community Centre  in the St Charles Catholic Sixth Form of North Westminster . This is London's only officially recognized Combined Black Arts and Community Centre. It is an internationally renowned and prize-winning artistic landmark and is managed under the same umbrella as the Tabernacle or Carnival Village

MUSIC on Stage

Mayor Ken Livingstone returns Live performances to the Carnival along with the long sought Hyde Park beach head with an exciting cultural exchange called Caribbean Showcase.

  Meanwhile the Powis Square Stage across from the former Tabernacle has become a popular place to enjoy local music artists Powis Square map

2007 is the 7th year of the local authorities banning live music on the stages except for above. However the Mayor  has succeeded in turning Hyde Park near the speaker's corner into a major Carnival venue beginning with the Panorams on Saturday night and flowing into Jouvert morning. 

Panorama is Carnival Saturday
in Hyde Park

www.carnaval.com/london/dj
2006 sound systems on our video & photo page
Best bet list for 2007
SOUND SYSTEMS at Notting Hill Carnival DJ fotos 2005
  2004 2003   SOUND Systems || 15 Perennial Sound Teams 2002 ||1997    MUSIC NightLife, DJ's & Calypso 
While the extravagant mas costumes in the parading bands are the featured star of Notting Hill Carnival, the events huge number of massive sound systems is the power behind the throne of Europe's largest annual Street festival.
The development of Sound Systems has been quite phenomenal since their inception in the seventies. Sound Systems form the core of contemporary youth culture. Most genres of popular youth culture owe much of their evolution to Sound Systems. Notting Carnival has every conceivable form of contemporary music and the best sound systems in the world, just ask any DJ.
Fusing the famous London club scene with Carnival, the DJ's play their favorite tunes, expanding beyond the usual Caribbean Carnival standards and adding local flavor to the scene 
 

Rampage
London's top club has a Carnival sound system presence

  ||Norman Jay Links at google    
The Legendary club DJ "one figure that fully represents Notting Hill (Carnival) it must be the Ben Sherman shirt and straw hat that is Norman Jay.  

Carnival is about the collective spirit of the people and the best energy can often be found by taking the pulse of J'Ouvert before the break of day on Sunday.
6am at the junction of Ladbroke Grove and Kensal Road, 5 steel bands participate in the procession  

www.ttmudders.co.uk 
All Nations under a Soca Groove

 google.com/search?=bbc.co.uk+london+carnival+live  
 BBC London will broadcasts exclusive scenes from the Notting Hill Carnival  on Sunday August (family day) and Monday (main parade). 

 webstersrecordshop.co.uk
For all the latest Reggae, soca, rnb, zouk and gospel CDs check out our new releases sections

faluma.com The Caribbean Music Shop and Label - Europe's specialists for CDs, Vinyl and Mix Tapes in the field of Soca & Calypso music.

CalypsoArchives

In RealAudi & MP3 full technosamba songs
 Radio Real Audio  || London-daily.co.uk  

Talk About It - London Carnival Forum by  www.aforum.com If you haven't found the info your looking for here on these pages be sure to check out our  forum which gets updated year-round while these pages currently get a major makeover in July of each year. Your welcome to add your info in your forum as well. forum or BBC Messageboard sound off on Notting Hill rules http://red5599com.proboards25.com/ soca rules http://www.thisisthelife.com/en/carnivals-festivals/notting-hill.htm Share why great festivals are also about the meaning of life TIPS & Safety   Carnival Transit Planner London Underground : Travel advice for the August Bank Holiday weekend advisory by Carnival Do's & Don'ts Metropolitan Police Advice: Children are especially vulnerable in crowds….Show consideration to residents and use the toilets provided….If an area is congested--Avoid it….If you lose or find a child go to the nearest police station or a police officer.  Performers Safety Guidelines  We've compiled from prior safety guidelines based on our coverage since 1996. After all parade technology is mostly about awareness and common sense it hold up well The lowdown on festival toilets by efestivals.co.uk  To go or not to go...? The Indispensable Festival Guide News  Lots at stake as stakeholders take stakes to each other

• Caribbean Restaurants in London by www.london-eating.co.uk 

• Caribbean Restaurants in London by www.eatjamaican.com

•  by   (North of the River):  

• > 

My London: Macy Gray Evening Standard 25 April 2003

VENDORS 

What's New Foto Gallery 
Add your Carnival foto web pages in aforum or e-mail us and we will
phatfotos.com
Tim Holt has been the Official Notting Hill Carnival Photographer and has many brilliant shots for sale.

www.nottinghillcarnival.org.uk/ 
an event photographed by "Halden Photography" photographer Mark Denton
 The Notting Hill Carnival by Joe Conway  || Yahoo Photos page.
Very good Travel & Crowd guide as well

Peter Marshall's Notting Hill Carnival
Beautiful, elegant B &W photos from the early nineties
  "I'm there in the middle of them, clutching a wide angle and a Red Stripe. Come and join me - have fun, this is Carnival..."  

artscouncil.org.uk/ || National Carnival Arts Strategy 2005-2007-pdf
Carnivalnet.org.uk ||   ||  

onroutecarnival.com

The Carnivalnet Archive is funded by the Arts Council  Carnivalists are invited to submit photographs and information or simply e-mail a question

Carnival Database In 1995, Dr. Patricia Alleyne-Dettmers and the Arts Council of England's Combined Arts Department established a publicly accessible database viewable in The Arts Council Library. In August of 1997 August, the database was expanded and brought online by ACE as carnivalnet.org.uk. Dr. Alleyne- Dettmers is a respected experts and a popular speaker on Carnivals.

 From Carnival to Civil Rights - London's Black History Trail at 24hourmuseum.org.uk  By Shruti Ganapathy 24/06/2005
The trail chronicles both dark days and those of celebration for the black community. Horniman’s Pleasance on Kensal Road hosts the Panorama steel band competition, held on the Saturday night of the Notting Hill Carnival weekend every year since 1978. London’s Carnival originally began in St Pancras in 1959 and over the years has moved to Notting Hill.

 Other Carnivals, Parades  Festivals and Annual Events in London and the UK
Jan || Feb || Mar || Apr || May || Jun || Jul || Aug || Sep || Oct || Nov || Dec  
UK Carnivals  & West Indian Carnivals  May - August

If you have got the time and money come to the UK in early August for one of the world's great art festivals in the capital of Scotland Edinborough. Find more links under August above

UK Carnivals || carnaval.com/drum/
Notting Hill CarnivalArchives
Find dozens more links to other articles buried in the Aforum