Hackney,
10
August
2018
|
13:16
Europe/London

The countdown to carnival is on!

Feathers, glitz, booming beats and fabulous dance routines from over 1,000 performers are set to grace the borough’s streets on Sunday 9 September with the return of the Hackney Carnival.

As well as spectacular costumes and energetic dancing at the Council-run event, there will be seven sound systems and live music from around the world as Hackney takes centre stage for an all-day Carnival extravaganza.

Working with the 2018 theme ‘Iconic Hackney’, the Carnival procession will start at the Queensbridge Road bridge over the Regents Canal at 1.30pm. It will then move its way north turning right onto Richmond Road and along Mare Street towards the Hackney Town Hall before heading up Amhurst Road, past Ridley Road down Dalston Lane and finishing back at the junction between Queensbridge Road and Richmond Road at approximately 5pm.

Alongside the Carnival procession, Hackney will be abuzz with a festival atmosphere from 12noon – 8pm that will see a live music stage in Gillett Square headlined by legendary Jamaican Reggae star Earl 16 and day long celebrations on Ridley Road featuring international food stalls and five sounds systems, including Solution Sounds and NTS Live. This year, there are also three new sound systems:Dubsin Sounds in Ridley Road, Eldica Records on Bradbury Street and a Hackney Pride 365 QTIPOC sound system in Bohemia place.

Local children and families can also enjoy a free all-day play area in Gillett Square from 12 noon – 6pm, featuring a pop-up playground. In Hackney Town Hall Square, the Hackney Playbus will be parked up alongside a pop up play road for kids on bikes.

Cllr Guy Nicholson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Arts & Culture
The countdown to Hackney Carnival 2018 is on. Hackney's very own Carnival is a grassroots celebration of our community and this year is set to be the biggest yet with 1,000 performers taking to the streets to celebrate Hackney.
Cllr Guy Nicholson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Arts & Culture

As part of the countdown to Carnival, local schools took part in the first ever Kids’ Carnival in Dalston Square in July. Local young people are also getting involved through Hackney Live, where they will stream the procession to a world wide audience.

Throughout the summer there will be Carnival themed workshops for residents. St Joseph’s Hospice and the Hackney Caribbean Elders Association have been running workshops for older people and participants have made decorations for an Older People’s carnival bus which will be part of the procession this year.

 

Pax Nindi, Founder of Global Carnival Centre and Hackney One Carnival Creative Director
There is no doubt that Hackney Carnival  has become the country's best fast growing Carnival and it’s special since it comes directly from the people of Hackney. The carnival has a lovely community feel - everyone from young to old gets involved. As well as the amazing costumes and dancing, the best thing about Hackney Carnival is it brings everyone together to have fun and discover each other's cultures.
Pax Nindi, Founder of Global Carnival Centre and Hackney One Carnival Creative Director

For further information about carnival and the route please visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/carnival. You can also follow Hackney Carnival on Facebook. Tweet and share your photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on the day using #HackneyCarnival.

Hackney Council is working in partnership with Transport for London, Shoreditch Town Hall, Global Carnivalz and Hackney Walk.