Taking place every August Bank Holiday weekend in London, the Notting Hill Carnival is an incredible array of sounds, colourful sights and social solidarity. Dancers from the ELIMU float parade down Chepstow Road, during the second and final day of the Notting Hill Carnival, in London, Monday Aug. 29, 2016.
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“It’s excellent! We are loving the free spirit of everyone and we have all been dancing”, said Annuar Aziz, a 41-year-old businessman from Malaysia who stumbled on the event by accident with his wife and four children.
The festival has been held since 1964 as a way for Afro-Caribbean communities to celebrate cultures and traditions.
Crowds line the streets during the Notting Hill Carnival in London August 30, 2016.
Photo / Getty Performers take part in the Notting Hill Carnival.
There were at least 401 arrests at Notting Hill Carnival over the two days of celebration.
Almost one quarter of the arrests were for possession of a bladed weapon while 74 were for drug offences. There were 440 arrests in total, and many of them were related to drugs and offensive weapons.
The Metropolitan Police reported Tuesday that a 14-year-old boy was among those facing charges for a string of knife attacks starting Sunday.
The carnival traces its roots back to Caribbean music festivals in the 1950s after the first surge in arrivals from former British colonies after World War II. It quickly grew and this year’s edition featured 60 bands and 38 sound systems.
Costumed performers take to the streets in a parade.
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As revellers recover from Notting Hill Carnival, which took place this bank holiday weekend, rubbish from the street party is making its way to waste recovery sites across London to be recycled or used to generate green energy.
