The Bath Carnival will once again return to the city streets this July after a two-year hiatus, with people being invited to join the celebration of culture, creativity and diversity.
The Bath Carnival in 2019 | Photo © Lucy Baker Photography
Local schools, community groups, charities and freelance artists are set to collaborate between May and July to prepare their performances for the event, taking place on Saturday 9th July.
As well as hundreds of drummers and dancers, this year’s carnival will see new giant puppets, professional carnival costumes and pedal-powered structures.
In addition to street performances, the annual party will also return to Sydney Gardens, with a range of free festival-themed activities for adults, children and families.
A main stage will play host to a selection of live bands including Afrobeat and Neo-soul acts, live hip-hop groups and funk outfits.
A range of food and drinks stalls as well as interactive workshops and free pitches for local charities are also being offered.
Children are well catered for with the Super Pirates curating an action-packed play zone with kid’s raves, giant inflatables, messy play, walkabout and group games.
Adults can head indoors after-hours at Komedia, with the official after-party expected to continue into the earlier hours.
This year’s theme is Mother Earth: Natural Habitats; with the organisers inviting the community to explore environmental issues including the loss of natural habitats, through artistic expression.
Throughout May and June, experienced Carnival artists and practitioners will be delivering new arts-based activities in the community including costume-making, puppetry, music, & dance.
Local schoolchildren are already signed up to take part in the workshop programme, each joining a ‘carnival bloc’ themed around endangered animals: Sumatran Tiger, Sea Turtle, British Bee, Madagascan Lemur, Union Island Gecko and Wild-Fire.
Charities will also be taking part in the creative process, with services users from Achieve Together, Mentoring Plus, Wheels For All and Black Families Education Group receiving free and accessible arts, crafts and music sessions.
Community groups, local businesses and members of the public can sign up to perform in the procession via the carnival’s website, with over 1000 performers expected to take part on the day.
As well as a team of industry professionals, there’s a supporting group of 100 volunteers that will play a vital role in delivering a safe carnival.
Members of the public are being invited to sign up for a 3-hour shift as a festival steward.
No experience is necessary, with roles including basic tasks such as collecting donations in one of the authorised buckets, using a clicker to monitor footfall via one of the entrances and running the merchandise stand.
You can find out more and sign-up here.
