Hackney One Carnival brought the streets to life yesterday (Sunday 27 Sept), with 7,500 residents and visitors lining the streets to watch the procession and enjoying events in Hackney Downs Park.

This is the second year Hackney Council has put on the event, with local carnival groups, community organisations and young people from across the borough.

More than 850 performers from 16 carnival groups in the borough took part in Hackney One Carnival which is part of the Cultural Olympiad, celebrating arts and culture alongside sports in the run up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Hackney Council chief executive Tim Shields and MTV Base presenter Kat B opened Hackney One Carnival and Kat B hosted events on the stage in Hackney Downs Park.

Tim Shields, Chief Executive of Hackney Council, said: “Hackney One Carnival is about everybody coming together to celebrate the diverse cultures that make our borough so special. It was fantastic to see so many residents lining the streets to watch the carnival procession and enjoying the events in Hackney Downs Park. The performances were colourful, energetic and exciting, and the Council is proud to support the amazing talent we have in Hackney.”

A carnival procession made its way through the streets from Hackney Town Hall to Hackney Downs Park where a programme of sports and cultural events culminated with a headline performance on stage from MOBO Award-winning UK hip-hop artist SWAY.

Carnival groups showcased their costumes on stage at Hackney Downs Park and were joined by many other community arts-based organisations. Choice FM presenter Martin Jay was the DJ on stage.

Young artists who demonstrated the cultural diversity of the borough took to the stage to showcase the breadth of talent among Hackney’s young people. The performers had been voted for on the www.younghackney.org website and included: Young soloists; rapper Bamboss; Sounds of the Streets; poet Rico; and dancer Wacky.

There were also traditional sports competitions for all the family to get involved with at Hackney Downs Park, including:
•Hackney’s fastest man, woman and child
•Olympic sports - discus, shot putt, javelin, sprints
•Egg and spoon race
•Sack race
•Wheelbarrow race

Hackney One Carnival is organised by Hackney Council’s 2012 Unit with local carnival groups. Building on Hackney’s long history as a host of carnival organisations, Hackney One Carnival encourages communities not traditionally involved in carnival to share the experience and showcase their heritage alongside traditional carnival groups.

Find out more about Olympic related opportunities at: www.hackney.gov.uk/2012-games