St Paul’s Carnival launches this year’s programme

St Paul’s Carnival is set to return to the streets of Bristol this summer between June 22 and July 22 with its annual celebration of African and Caribbean culture.

Although the infamous carnival itself will not take place, this will be the first year since the pandemic that the carnival’s community events are held in-person.

The carnival is expected to launch its new Back A Yard events programme, playing on the traditional Jamaican phrase meaning “back home” or “where I’m from.”

This aims to pay tribute to the history and legacy of the St Paul’s community, taking the carnival back to its roots on the 60th anniversary of Jamaican independence.

Food, music, arts, and the local community is also at the heart of this year’s carnival, with events ranging from a carnival library to a community picnic and a musical takeover of Lost Horizon, located in St Jude’s.

This year, St Paul’s Carnival will launch their new Back A Yard programme of community events – photo: St Paul’s Carnival / Purplefish PR

The carnival’s library event will take place on June 22, also known as Windrush Day, which marks the arrival of Afro-Caribbean immigrants in Britain.

Attendees can expect to hear the touching, historic stories of those from the Windrush generation who now live in the St Paul’s community.

Local artists are also set to take centre stage, with the carnival’s community picnic welcoming musical showcases from Bristol-based musicians Tan Teddy, Rider Shafique, and Da Fuchaman.

Legendary reggae artist Horace Andy is even set to headline the carnival’s takeover of Lost Horizon on July 2.

Despite the carnival itself not going ahead, St Paul’s Carnival hopes to replicate the lively carnival atmosphere it is well known for, with The Rainbow Steel Band set to make an appearance at the community picnic.

In its celebration of the St Paul’s community, the carnival opens its arms to attendees of all ages. Families are welcome to take part in the community celebration on July 2, and can expect musical performances from local primary schools, featuring steel pans, drumming and dancing.

This year also marks Levi Roots first St Paul’s Carnival as chairman. Roots’ personal history with the carnival dates back to the early 1970s, as he frequently visited St Paul’s as part of the Sir Coxsone Outernational, one of the UK’s most influential soundsystems.

Commenting on the carnival’s new Back A Yard programme, Roots said that “We are excited to return this year with an in-person programme offering the opportunity for us to be with the community once again in the heart of St Paul’s.”

Levi Roots will experience his first year as chairman of St Paul’s Carnival – photo: St Paul’s Carnival

Executive director of the carnival, LaToyah McAllister-Jones, also shared Roots’ excitement about its physical return: “Following our break from large-scale events as a result of the pandemic, it was important that we bring the carnival back to its origins and back a yard!

“We want the whole city to feel part of our celebrations this year, paying special attention to the St Paul’s community who have kept the carnival spirit alive for 54 years! We look forward to the success and enjoyment the programme will bring as we prepare for a full-scale carnival event in 2023.”

Tickets for each carnival event go on sale today at 10am on the St Paul’s Carnival website.

Main Image: David Tidman

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