Thousands expected along Caribbean Carnival route

Asha PatelBBC News, Nottingham
News imageNottingham Carnival A Caribbean parade troupe member, wearing an extravagant purple and white outfit, covered in feathers and a gold wing-like structure covered in sparkly mesh. Nottingham Carnival
Nottingham's Caribbean Carnival will return to the city on 17 August

Nottingham's Caribbean Carnival is returning to the city's Victoria Embankment.

The event, which has been running for almost 70 years in Nottingham, will take place on 17 August.

Thousands of spectators are expected along the carnival parade, which starts at the Embankment and travels through the Meadows.

A programme of entertainment will run from 13:00 to 20:00 BST at the ticketed Carnival Village, off Wilford Grove.

News imageA Caribbean carnival parade troupe member wearing a white, green and gold costume parading down the street as people watch.
Hundreds of outfits are expected to feature in this year's parade

The carnival first took place in the city in 1958, organised by people who had moved to Nottingham from St Kitts, the city council said.

Events took place sporadically between then and the early 1990s, before it was cancelled in 1998 over health, safety and financing concerns.

However, the community's outcry in response to the cancellation prompted a march in the city centre, establishing today's carnival in 1999, the authority added.

News imageA Caribbean Carnival parade troupe member in a gold dress with a headdress made of yellow and black tall feathers.
Nottingham City Council called the carnival the city's "biggest Caribbean cultural event"

More than 400 costumes are expected to be paraded along this year's route, starting at the Victoria Embankment, then through Wilford Grove, Felton Road and Green Street.

The parade will then make its way back down to the Embankment via Bunbury Street, returning to the Carnival Village via Wilford Grove.

Entertainment will include singer Etana and BBC 1Xtra DJ Seani B, as well as other performances.

There will also be a number of food and drink stalls and fairground rides at the Carnival Village.

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