This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gjyyd2320o
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Notting Hill Carnival 2025: Performers hit west London for main parade | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The party atmosphere has taken hold of west London again as the second day of the Notting Hill Carnival kicked off with the main parade. | The party atmosphere has taken hold of west London again as the second day of the Notting Hill Carnival kicked off with the main parade. |
| Colourful costumes, dancing and music filled the streets of west London for Europe's biggest street party's children's day on Sunday, and the spectacle will continue throughout Monday. | Colourful costumes, dancing and music filled the streets of west London for Europe's biggest street party's children's day on Sunday, and the spectacle will continue throughout Monday. |
| The carnival, which celebrates Caribbean culture and history, has been running for more than 50 years. | The carnival, which celebrates Caribbean culture and history, has been running for more than 50 years. |
| Carnival-goer Jeff Sam, 74, said: "We are here to enjoy ourselves and we know it's going to be a fantastic day, something you have never dreamed in your life. | Carnival-goer Jeff Sam, 74, said: "We are here to enjoy ourselves and we know it's going to be a fantastic day, something you have never dreamed in your life. |
| "You're going to see Brazilian bands, you're going to see Caribbean bands, you're going to see bands from all over the world coming and performing in beautiful costumes." | "You're going to see Brazilian bands, you're going to see Caribbean bands, you're going to see bands from all over the world coming and performing in beautiful costumes." |
| Bright costumes filled Notting Hill on Monday morning | Bright costumes filled Notting Hill on Monday morning |
| Tiered floats of performers made their way down the streets | Tiered floats of performers made their way down the streets |
| The street party encourages people to wear ornate costumes to mark the celebration | The street party encourages people to wear ornate costumes to mark the celebration |
| One performer, Lauren, estimated that her costume contained about 500 jewels. | One performer, Lauren, estimated that her costume contained about 500 jewels. |
| Her sister made her outfit, and she made the tiara, Lauren explained. | Her sister made her outfit, and she made the tiara, Lauren explained. |
| "The tiaras take about two hours each," she told BBC London. | "The tiaras take about two hours each," she told BBC London. |
| "They start off just as wire and we wrap them with fabric and then we add the gems on." | "They start off just as wire and we wrap them with fabric and then we add the gems on." |
| Matt Vernon, from Beat Carnival in Belfast, said his group would be performing with puppets to commemorate Sonny Blacks, "a key member of Notting Hill Carnival in the early days". | Matt Vernon, from Beat Carnival in Belfast, said his group would be performing with puppets to commemorate Sonny Blacks, "a key member of Notting Hill Carnival in the early days". |
| "We built them very quickly, but very professionally in the last two weeks," he said. | "We built them very quickly, but very professionally in the last two weeks," he said. |
| "We leapt to the challenge and were very honored to be asked to create these things." | "We leapt to the challenge and were very honored to be asked to create these things." |
| He said the puppets took "a lot of core muscles and good vibes" to show at Carnival. | He said the puppets took "a lot of core muscles and good vibes" to show at Carnival. |
| A puppet commemorating one of Carnival's organisers, Sonny Blacks, made up part of one display | A puppet commemorating one of Carnival's organisers, Sonny Blacks, made up part of one display |
| Derillio Alexander is performing in one of the bands on Monday | Derillio Alexander is performing in one of the bands on Monday |
| Derillio Alexander, 33, who is normally based in Amsterdam, said he was performing at Carnival with Ebony Steel Band. | Derillio Alexander, 33, who is normally based in Amsterdam, said he was performing at Carnival with Ebony Steel Band. |
| "It's gonna be a big party," he said. "We're gonna bust the place. It's always a pleasure to be here and we're gonna do our thing." | "It's gonna be a big party," he said. "We're gonna bust the place. It's always a pleasure to be here and we're gonna do our thing." |
| More than a million people are expected to attend the festivities during the day. | More than a million people are expected to attend the festivities during the day. |
| Carnival chair Ian Comfort said this year's event had so far been "spectacular and safe". | Carnival chair Ian Comfort said this year's event had so far been "spectacular and safe". |
| But he warned that funding was vital to keep it going every year, after writing to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy in June to request government support. | But he warned that funding was vital to keep it going every year, after writing to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy in June to request government support. |
| "It's important that bands get funding because if bands don't get funding, you don't get the costumes, you don't get a parade," he said. | "It's important that bands get funding because if bands don't get funding, you don't get the costumes, you don't get a parade," he said. |
| "Without funding we couldn't make it safe and we've invested a lot of money this year in improving safety in terms of both the staffing and also the technological infrastructure for the Carnival." | "Without funding we couldn't make it safe and we've invested a lot of money this year in improving safety in terms of both the staffing and also the technological infrastructure for the Carnival." |
| The celebrations will continue long into the rest of the day | The celebrations will continue long into the rest of the day |
| Drum beats were heard down the streets as the parade made progress | Drum beats were heard down the streets as the parade made progress |
| Mr Comfort added that more people needed to find out about the event's history. | Mr Comfort added that more people needed to find out about the event's history. |
| "People need to look at why it was set up… Carnival brings people together. It's important it continues to bring people together as a show of unity," he said. | "People need to look at why it was set up… Carnival brings people together. It's important it continues to bring people together as a show of unity," he said. |
| "If Carnival is a success, it's because everyone embraced it. It doesn't matter who they are, come and enjoy yourself." | "If Carnival is a success, it's because everyone embraced it. It doesn't matter who they are, come and enjoy yourself." |
| Following the Adult's Parade, Carnival continues with sound systems and live stages of music in Emslie Horniman's Pleasance Park and Powis Square. | Following the Adult's Parade, Carnival continues with sound systems and live stages of music in Emslie Horniman's Pleasance Park and Powis Square. |
| All major music and sound systems will be switched off at 15:00 for a 72-second silence to commemorate the 72 lives lost in the Grenfell Tower fire, as well as those who have died at Carnival in recent years and Kelso Cochrane whose murder in 1959 became one of the catalysts for the event. | All major music and sound systems will be switched off at 15:00 for a 72-second silence to commemorate the 72 lives lost in the Grenfell Tower fire, as well as those who have died at Carnival in recent years and Kelso Cochrane whose murder in 1959 became one of the catalysts for the event. |
| Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk | Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk |