Notting Hill Carnival: Ways to celebrate as festival is cancelled this year
The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual Caribbean flavoured event that has taken place in London since 1966 on the streets of Notting Hill.
It is usually celebrated across the last weekend of August, starting on the Sunday and going into the bank holiday Monday.
Led by members of the British West Indian community and attracting around two and a half million people annually, it’s an explosion of amazing costumes, music, food and culture.
Although restrictions have eased to allow large events to take place, the lockdown has had a huge impact on Carnival 2021, forcing the event to be cancelled for the second year in a row.
If you still want to celebrate the spirit of Carnival this year, what can you do? From food and drink ideas to the perfect playlist, read on to get your very own carnival started now…
Carnival 2021: live stream different events
Though the in-person extravaganza will have to wait for another year, there are still things you can do to enjoy Carnival.
This year, Carnival is running online, and you can watch all the action via the official app.
King Tubby’s, Rampage and Channel 1 will be showcasing sound systems and streaming exclusive sets from midday until 8pm on Sunday and Monday.
You can also enjoy a perfectly curated playlist of the freshest sounds and classic favourites to capture the spirit of Carnival.
Spotify and Notting Hill Carnival have partnered together to bring the sounds of the Carnival from the speakers in the streets to the speakers in your home.
Carnival inspired food
This year, Deliveroo is raising money for people affected by the cancellation of Carnival by offering a limited edition range of patties, the traditional Jamaican snack.
Deliveroo have teamed up with four official ambassadors to help band players, singers and street food vendors who have had to endure two consecutive years of cancelled Carnivals.
13-year-old carnival dancer A’sha Morris, activist Fiona Compton, Chef Hasan and musician Shakka have designed their own limited edition illustrated Caribbean patties.
The jumbo 200G patties are available from August 29 and will stay available while stocks last in multiple areas across Manchester and London for £5.66 – a nod to the first Carnival taking place in 1966.
All four patties are available in a spiced beef and a scotch-bonnet-packed vegan version, both encased in golden pastry and bursting with the flavour of Notting Hill Carnival.
Carnival cocktails and drink ideas
Carnival is a celebration of all things the Caribbean and West Indies, so it’s a great excuse to whack out the rum.
You can make a rum punch or try a myriad of summer-inspired cocktails to capture that Carnival vibe.
Will Notting Hill Carnival be back in 2022?
Matthew Phillip, executive director of Notting Hill Carnival, said in a statement that he is ‘confident’ it will return next year.
He told the Press Association: ‘The impact of Notting Hill Carnival not being on the streets for two years has hit the street food vendors, bands and individuals who make it the spectacle it is hard, but it was important that we were not on the streets this year both for the safety of everyone but also the long-term future of Notting Hill Carnival itself.
‘We’re very confident about coming back next year although we are not 100 per cent back to normality.’
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