More about: Notting Hill Carnival
See you on the road in 2021
Notting Hill Carnival is entering its 54th year in 2020. Sadly, there will be no physical parade, though there will be a mega broadcast called Access All Areas, bringing Mas, Calypso, cooking classes, steelpan and more to your living room.
It'll be great. But we will miss the sights, smells and sounds of Carnival on the road too. Here are some of our highlights from the last couple of years: they're all things we'll miss this year.
You might also like...
Soundystems in the street
Soundsytems are playing exclusive sets all day on Sunday and Monday, but can anything really beat seeing a massive 55k rig in the middle of a residential street? You've got your King Tubby's, your Rampage and your Channel 1 adding noise to the stream this weekend, but we're remembering getting up at the debauched front of the Rampage 27th anniversary last year with fond nostalgia.
Read more about the 8 best soundsystems here.
Graffiti
A boarded up Notting Hill is a happy Notting Hill. In 2018 we saw a fine Brexshit among the artwork. It's a great change from the monotony of Capitalism's day-to-day and a key part of the mood of NHC.
Unpredicatable weather
We got piss-wet through in 2018 and boiled to death in 2019. You never know what weather you're gonna get at Carnival...and isn't that part of the fun? Imitate the effect by streaming the performances in the garden through rain and shine.
The wonder of strangers
More than a million people head to Notting Hill Carnival every year, making it one of the biggest events in the entire world. You're bound to see some craziness, and that inevitability is part of the thrill. Check out this guy:
Authentic food
If you're a good cook - or live with one - you'll be set for Carnival snacks this year. Access All Areas is broadcasting some cookery and cocktail classes that you can chef along to. There's no beating some jerk chicken straight off of the oil drum BBQ though...
In the thick of the floats
The sweat. The energy. The excitement. The nerves. The whining. What more can we say?
Support Notting Hill Carnival this year by tuning into Access All Areas this weekend (29-31 August). Sign-up to see all of the amazing shows here. Download the app for iPhone/Android.
More about: Notting Hill Carnival
Photo: Aryan Jafri
