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London celebrates the Notting Hill Carnival

August 26, 2016

This weekend London embraces Caribbean culture. The biggest carnival in Britain will be turning 50.

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Großbritannien London Notting Hill Karneval 2013
Image: DW/N. Samimi

This Sunday (August 28) Europe's biggest street festival will once again transform the Notting Hill neighborhood of London into a kaleidoscope of sound and color. Revelers can immerse themselves in a two-day extravaganza of calypso, Caribbean costumes, and jerk chicken. The main parade begins at 9 a.m. (UTC) on Monday and continues for some five kilometers through the streets of West London. Trucks with steel bands and over 40 stages ensure the beat never stops.

The carnival was the brainchild of a group of artists in 1966, who wanted to celebrate the different cultures at home in Notting Hill with a street party. Since then the event has traditionally been held on the last weekend of August, which includes a public holiday on the Monday. It is now the second biggest carnival in the world after Rio, attracting over 2.5 million visitors every year.

fm,fl/mj (The Guardian, www.visitbritainshop.com)