Held in August since 1966, the Notting Hill Carnival It is the largest celebration festival of its kind in Europe.
Every year the streets of West London come alive with the sounds and smells of the most vibrant Caribbean party and with its famous twenty kilometer parade with its colorful costumes, musical groups, hundreds of Caribbean food stalls, (be sure to visit Mommy Jerk Station, at the corner of Portobello Road and Oxford Gardens) with over 40.000 volunteers and over 1 million attendees.
Starting life as a local festival created by the West Indian community in the Notting Hill area of London, it has now evolved into a thoroughbred Caribbean carnival, attracting millions of visitors from around the world.
With many amazing floats and the sounds of traditional drum bands and dozens of sound systems, Notting Hill Carnival is without a doubt the most exciting annual event in the British capital.
For this 2012, it is celebrated from Sunday 27 to Monday 27 of August, where Sunday is Children's Day, when prizes are given to the best costumes. While Monday is the main parade which usually starts on the Great Western Road, then winds its way along Chepstow Road, to Westbourne Grove, then Ladbroke Grove.
At night, floats roam the streets surrounded by a unique party where music is the heart of the festival with traditional and contemporary sounds, filling the air for miles around.
Historically Soca bands and Calypso music have been at the heart of Carnival, but in recent years these have been overtaken by the sound systems of Reggae R&B, Funk, House, Dub and much more.
And there's nothing like the smell of Notting Hill Carnival. We refer to the wonderful aromas of traditional Caribbean food. And the event offers the perfect introduction to jerk chicken, rice and peas and rum punch, as well as the rare taste of other exotic cuisines of hamburgers, curries, jerk chicken and fried banana sold at street food stalls.