The 2023 celebration will commence with a series of fringe events from 22 June, marking the Windrush 75th Anniversary, and will culminate in the iconic day-long traditional Caribbean street carnival.
Leading up to the main celebration day, a series of Carnival Fringe events launching in June will take place honouring community achievements and the Caribbean legends of the past, present and future.
The iconic celebration of Bristol’s African-Caribbean culture will return Saturday July 1st, celebrating the theme of Learning from Legends.
Leading up to the main celebration day, a series of Carnival Fringe events launching in June will take place honouring community achievements and the Caribbean legends of the past, present and future.
June 2023 marks the Windrush 75th anniversary, celebrating three quarters of a century since those invited from the Caribbean migrated to Great Britain, some of whom founded the carnival event.
T20 Carnival Clash: 17:00, 17th June 2023 @ Seat Unique Stadium
St Pauls Carnival is teaming up with the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club to present the first ever T20 Carnival Clash. Hosted at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol, this one-off celebration will bring a Caribbean flavour to the Gloucestershire v Kent Spitfires Vitality Blast fixture.
The fundraising evening will feature special pre-match performances from Carnival artists including traditional steel pan and a procession troupe. A steel band will play Reggae, Soca and Calypso sounds from the islands to cricket fans as they arrive and enjoy the evening. Food stalls will also offer flavours from the Caribbean creating a truly authentic experience for fans.
Legends of Windrush: Human Library: 17:30 – 21:00, 21st June 2023
The St Pauls Carnival’s Legends of Windrush: Human Library event will embrace the ‘Learning from Legends’ theme by recognising trailblazers from the Caribbean community who have impacted the lives of many, city-wide and beyond.
The library event will feature local guest speakers, giving them space to tell important first-hand Windrush stories that have a crucial role in shaping future generations and the culture of St Pauls Carnival. Venue for this event is to be confirmed.
Inna Wi Carnival Cinema: 18:00 – 22:00, 27th June 2023 @ Trinity Centre
Inna Wi Carnival Cinema located at the Trinity Centre will present a film programme relating to Carnival’s broader work; Windrush legacy, Caribbean & Carnival Culture and Black Britain. The event will be presented in collaboration with Cables & Cameras, a hub for people of colour (POC) filmmakers in Bristol.
Featuring a series of four short films from talented black & brown local creatives, including: Home Carnival Queen, HATS, Celebrate What? and the St Pauls Carnival production Inna Wi Carnival: Reflections of a Generation.
In addition to these events St Pauls carnival has teamed up with Bristol-based social enterprise Babbasa to celebrate its 10th anniversary on the 30th June 2023 at the Malcolm X Community Centre. The carnival team has also partnered with Active Archives and Afrikan As Future to deliver two events in June.
Commenting on the 2023 Carnival Fringe series Executive Director St Pauls Carnival, LaToyah McAllister-Jones said: “Paying homage and learning from the legends that have come before us is at the heart this year’s activities.
“The team is excited to deliver these impactful events to the Bristol and wider communities offering the taste and flavour of carnival in the run up to the truly missed full scale carnival event”.
Tickets for the Fringe events are available to purchase here.
With three weeks to go until gates open at Worthy Farm, the full itinerary for the Somerset event has been confirmed today (May 30), including a detailed breakdown of stages and set times.
