The Children’s Day Parade in W10 featured bright smiles, intricate costumes, and lively dancing, marking the traditional start of the two-day festival. This carnival, recognized as Europe’s largest street celebration, serves as a tribute to Caribbean culture and heritage.
To kick off the day’s festivities, revelers gathered for J’Ouvert, meaning the “opening of the day,” at 6 am in Notting Hill, where they danced and celebrated with colorful powdered paints.
Following this spirited start, hundreds of young participants adorned themselves in vibrant costumes as they followed the traditional children’s day parade route spanning three miles through the streets of west London. This family-friendly event, which inaugurates the carnival, aims to inspire the next generation, receiving enthusiastic cheers from onlookers.
Organizers, presenting the carnival as “the greatest community-led event on the planet,” expressed their joy in seeing the younger generation carrying on the carnival traditions by dancing in the streets adorned in their meticulously crafted costumes.
In a poignant moment, the 72 individuals who tragically lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire in North Kensington in June 2017 were remembered with a 72-second silence observed at 3 pm.
The upcoming bank holiday weekend is expected to draw more than two million people to the streets of west London. The main day of the carnival is set for Monday, featuring the adult’s parade beginning at midday.
This year’s street party holds significance as it marks two milestone anniversaries: the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush, which heralded mass immigration from the Caribbean, and the 50th anniversary of the introduction of sound systems and Mas bands, transforming the carnival into a large-scale event.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed the return of the parade, considering it an integral part of the city’s fabric, celebrating Caribbean history and culture. He praised all those involved in making the carnival happen, from organizers to emergency service personnel, emphasizing the importance of their contributions.
Regarding security, police reported that the first day of the carnival was characterized by good-natured celebrations. However, they made 24 arrests in the carnival area, including some for suspected possession of offensive weapons. Enhanced stop and search powers were in place until 2 am on Monday as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of carnival-goers while maintaining a respectful and sensitive policing approach throughout the event.
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