Notting Hill Carnival Taken Off the Streets for Second Year Running

Organisers are putting “safety first” with the decision for this year’s Notting Hill Carnival to not take place on the streets.

The news came following the government’s latest announcement of caution over the roadmap out of lockdown. The board decided it best to represent the fiesta in other ways. This was due to the short amount of time participants would have to prepare, together with the risk of cancellation.

The three day street party held in west London occurs every year over the August Bank Holiday weekend. It usually attracts an attendance of around two million people.

However, this is the second year in a row it is taken off the streets, with last year’s event going digital for the first time. In 2020 it was hosted by radio presenters DJ Ace and Remel London instead, streaming on four channels.

The board say they desperately want the event to return to the road, as that is where carnival belongs. But taking it off the streets is the only way to ensure the safety of everyone involved and the public.

History of the Notting Hill Carnival

The Carnival is a huge event every year in London, drawing in large crowds. It usually takes place in Notting Hill, Westbourne Park and parts of Kensington. Over its long 55 year history it has grown to become one of the biggest carnivals in the world. It is second only to the one in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

The event aims to “promote unity and bring people of all ages together”, with music, dancing, and food and drink rooted in Caribbean culture. The first carnival was put on in 1966 by Notting Hill resident Rhaune Laslett. She wanted to highlight and celebrate the diversity in her area. The event has since had influence from the Windrush generation.

Organisers of the carnival felt a responsibility to prioritise safety. They came to their decision after the government extended Covid restrictions in England. Plans to end all legal limits on social contact were moved by four weeks from 21 June to 19 July.

Full details of alternative arrangements for the carnival will come nearer the time, with latest developments announced on social media and via its website.

Meanwhile, organisers are now working on plans for a spectacular come back in 2022, hoping for the “greatest ever Notting Hill Carnival”.

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