St Pauls Carnival has announced a series of special fringe events ahead of this year's main celebration day. The organisation is hosting its first full-scale Carnival Day since 2019, returning on July 1, 2023, under the theme Learning from Legends.
The fringe events and Carnival Day will honour of those who have contributed to the community during the past, present and future. This June also marks the Windrush 75th anniversary, celebrating three-quarters of a century since those invited from the Caribbean migrated to Great Britain, some of whom founded the carnival event, as well as 60 years since Bristol's Bus Boycott.
LaToyah McAllister-Jones, Executive Director St Pauls Carnival said: “Paying homage and learning from the legends that have come before us is at the heart of this year’s activities. The team is excited to deliver these impactful events to the Bristol and wider communities offering the taste and flavour of carnival in the run up to the truly missed full scale carnival event”.
Read more: St Pauls Carnival 2023 announces full return to mark Windrush and Bristol's Bus Boycott
Here are this year's events in the lead up to St Pauls Carnival Day to put in your diaries:
T20 Carnival Clash
June 17, 5pm. Adult tickets from £15
Seat Unique Stadium, Nevil Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 9EJ
St Pauls Carnival is teaming up with the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club to present the first-ever T20 Carnival Clash. Hosted at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bishopston, this one-off celebration will bring a Caribbean flavour to the Gloucestershire v Kent Spitfires Vitality Blast fixture.
The fundraising evening will feature special pre-match performances from Carnival artists including traditional steel pan and a procession troupe. A steel band will play Reggae, Soca and Calypso sounds from the islands to cricket fans as they arrive and enjoy the evening. Food stalls will also offer flavours from the Caribbean creating a truly authentic experience for fans.
Legends of Windrush: Human Library
June 21, 5pm-9pm. Tickets are pay-what-you-can
Venue TBC
This event will embrace the ‘Learning from Legends’ theme by recognising some of the key figures from the Caribbean community who have impacted the lives of so many, both city-wide and beyond. The library event will feature local guest speakers, giving them space to tell important first-hand Windrush stories that have a crucial role in shaping future generations and the culture of St Pauls Carnival. The venue for this event is to be confirmed.
Inna Wi Carnival Cinema
June 27, 6pm-10pm. Tickets are pay-what-you-can
Trinity Centre, Trinity Rd, St Jude's, Bristol BS2 0NW
Inna Wi Carnival Cinema will present a film programme relating to Carnival's broader work; Windrush legacy, Caribbean & Carnival Culture and Black Britain. The event will be presented in collaboration with Cables & Cameras, a hub for people of colour (POC) filmmakers in Bristol.
Featuring a series of four short films from talented local creatives, including Home Carnival Queen, HATS, Celebrate What? and the St Pauls Carnival production Inna Wi Carnival: Reflections of a Generation.
Other events in association with St Pauls Carnival include Family Collage Art Workshop with Oshii on June 7 at The Mount Without and Healings Through Dub and the Legend of Kunte Kinte on June 10 at the same venue.
St Pauls Carnival has teamed up with Bristol-based social enterprise Babbasa to celebrate its 10th anniversary on June 30 at the Malcolm X Community Centre. Free tickets for these three events are available through the St Pauls Carnival website.
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