The sun was out and so was Leicester, as thousands packed the streets on Saturday (August 1) to dance their way through this year’s Caribbean Carnival.
Troupes of all ages took part in the parade, with music echoing through the crowds and the tantalising smell of Caribbean food drifting through the air.
Held under the theme Crowned by Culture – Caribbean Queens and Kings, the parade set off from Granville Road at 12pm on Saturday (August 1) and wound its way through the city centre, taking in Victoria Park, London Road, St Georges Way, Charles Street, Humberstone Gate, Gallowtree Gate, Granby Street and Northampton Street, before returning to Victoria Park.
From 2pm to 8pm, Victoria Park became the heart of the celebrations, with a Family Zone, a main stage of headline acts and Leicester talent, and a Soca Village with DJ zones.
A fun fair, bar and food zone serving Caribbean flavours were also on offer for those who came out to enjoy the day.
It’s a tradition that began in 1985, after community members felt Leicester had let the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation of Slavery pass the year before without any recognition.
Determined not to let it happen again, a group led by Elvy Morton, originally from Nevis, set about founding what would become Leicester Caribbean Carnival in 1984.
That first carnival came together through grassroots fundraising and community donations, with county councillors Tony O’Brien and Sharma securing £2,000 from Leicestershire County Council and the city council adding a further £500.
Alongside Morton, Ruby McCarthy, Linda Herbert, Malik Elhajj, Joe Caines, Melda Beresford, Colin Greenidge and local young people helped bring the first carnival to life.
More than four decades on, that same spirit was on show yesterday as another generation of troupes, dancers and musicians brought Leicester’s streets to life once again.
See our photo gallery below. Can you spot yourself?
