Carnival is here!

Birmingham Carnival will be filling the city with soca rhythms, steelpan beats and all things Caribbean, as the free biennial festival comes to Perry Park on Sunday 2nd August. The highlight will be the vibrant carnival procession, which will leave Handsworth Park at 1pm, winding its way through the streets of Birmingham to arrive at approximately 4pm in Perry Park.

The procession will be led by the new Carnival Queen for 2009, Sancia Parkinson (17) from Perry Barr in Birmingham, who won the competition at a special event on Saturday and will now be the ‘face of carnival’ for the next two years. Over 2000 dancers from troupes across the country are expected to take part in the procession this year, all in fantastic sequined and feathered costumes.

The Carnival Queen and her troupe will be wearing costumes designed by the legendary Professor Black who has been working since last August with volunteers in his workshop, described as an “Aladdin’s Cave” of colour, feathers and sequins. In Perry Park the party starts at 12noon where live music, entertainment, food and a funfair will keep all the family entertained until 9pm.

The stage programme will include great acts such as Coco-P Tru Street Dance, Yaz Alexander, Lil Keisha and Coco Brown. In 2007 the carnival attracted as many as 80,000 revellers throughout the day, and organisers are hoping for as many this year.

Cllr Martin Mullaney, Cabinet Member for Leisure Sport & Culture commented, “Birmingham’s biennial Carnival is a major fixture in the Council’s community events programme, and we hope people from right across the country will join in the fun at this fantastic, free celebration.” Sharon Lea, Acting Strategic Director of Environment and Culture said, “Birmingham Carnival is a wonderful celebration of the diversity of our city, and everyone is invited to come along and enjoy this free family day out.”

Visitors to the event are advised to travel by public transport if possible, but anyone travelling by car is asked to follow the parking signs and to park only in designated areas. Organisers have advised that traffic attendants and tow trucks will be patrolling the area around Perry Park to ensure all vehicles are parked legally and considerately to minimise disruption for local residents. The Birmingham Carnival celebrates African-Caribbean culture and is organised by the Carnival Committee 2000 Ltd, with support from Birmingham City Council and other partners.