Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event which takes place every August, with this year marking its 50th anniversary. The event was born out of the indoor carnivals that came to London in 1959 which were used to celebrate the culture of the Caribbean immigrants who arrived in the UK after the war, the first of which took place at St. Pancras Town Hall and was televised by the BBC.
These events eventually grew and spilled out into the streets of London, becoming a celebration for all nationalities, until musician Russ Henderson and his steel band were invited to perform at the 1966 carnival, culminating in the band leading a spontaneous march through the streets of Notting Hill with crowds of people following, thus inspiring the carnival we know today. The carnival has now become the largest street festival in Europe where people from all over come together and celebrate what is Londons now hugely multicultural society.
Notting Hill Carnival 2016 is a free event and will take place on August 28th to August 29th from 10am-8.30pm. We think it's the perfect way to celebrate the bank holiday weekend and soak up the last of the Summer.
With the carnival spirit running through us, we took a look around
Alfies for some flamboyant pieces.
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