Preview Leeds Carnival
Come join the celebrations this bank holiday with carnival chaos in Leeds
Preview: Leeds Carnival
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With August’s bank holiday weekend fast approaching, it can only mean one thing. Leeds Carnival is in town. Having started back in 1967, 2010 will be the carnival’s 43rd year, and it’s expected to burst onto the streets of Leeds this August in style.
Proudly the longest-running carnival in Europe, the organisers must be doing something right.
Rivalled only by London’s Notting Hill carnival, Leeds has certainly built up a name for itself, with many carnival-goers travelling from afar to witness the animated celebrations.
Ian Charles, one of the carnival co-founders tells Leeds Guide why the carnival is so popular: “We as a committee don’t set any rules. There is no theme. Everyone is free to do their own thing.” An idea that was sparked when Charles was a student in Leeds, he and Arthur France have never looked back. Starting with a respectable 1,000 visitors in 1967 and peaking at an estimated 150,000 visitors in 2009, the carnival has experienced phenomenal success.
The first West Indian carnival in Britain, its origins are deeply embedded with racial conflict. It was intended to relieve some pressure caused by racial strife in Leeds it’s the 1960s, by demonstrating the positive contribution black settlers could bring to British culture. It fast became a celebration of culture.
Occurring annually on August’s bank holiday weekend, this year’s carnival is sure to be vivacious. The highlights, Charles says, will be: “the variety of costumes. Also we have about 20 troops lined up for the procession on Monday, so that’s always very popular.”
However, there is plenty more in store, with the annual crowning of the prince and princess and the crowning of the queen – which always pulls in the crowds.
Then the carnival really kicks off. As we hit Saturday the Calypso Monarch show will provide plenty of calypso beats to get the party started. Then onto the Monday and J’ouvert Morning with music and dancing in abundance. Finally, topping it all off is the Carnival Day Parade, starting and finishing in Potternewton Park in Chapletown.
So expect to see a horde of extravagant and flamboyant costumes, dazzling dance moves and a lot of toe tapping to alluring and spirited beats. Watch as the streets of Leeds become alive.
28-30 August, www.leedscarnival.co.uk
Posted on Monday 2nd August 2010
Amy Taylor
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