Bath Carnival returns to city centre this July

After a two-year hiatus from the streets of Bath the Carnival returns to the city centre to bring together people across Bath & North East Somerset for a celebration of culture, creativity and diversity.

Image: A carnival dancer at a previous Bath Carnival 

Local schools, community groups, charities and freelance artists are collaborating to prepare their costumes and performances. As well as hundreds of drummers and dancers, this year’s carnival will see new giant puppets, professional carnival costumes, soundsystems and pedal-powered structures to create a truly incredible artistic spectacle.

The annual party in the park also returns to Sydney Gardens with a range of free, fun festival themed activities for adults, children and families.

The main stage plays host to an eclectic selection of live bands including hip-hop outfits Afrocluster, The Scribes and Mellowmatic, 8-piece Afrobeat ensemble The Goddess Collective and the Afro-Brazilian samba group Bloco B.

As well as bars, food and drinks stalls, interactive workshops and free pitches for local charities; the totally awesome Super Pirates will be curating an action-packed play zone with children's raves, giant inflatables, messy play and group games. The grown-ups move indoors for an after-hours party at Komedia with DJs and live headliners Jamma de Samba. 

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 have delivered new arts-based activities in the community, including costume-making, puppetry, music, & dance. Local children from schools across Bath & North East Somerset are already signed up to take part in the workshop programme, each joining a ‘carnival bloc’ themed around endangered animals including a Sumatran Tiger, Sea Turtle, British Bee, Madagascan Lemur, and Union Island Gecko. 

Local charities will also be taking part in the creative process with services users from Achieve Together, Mentoring Plus, MENCAP, 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 website, with over 1000 performers expected to take part on the big day.

As well as a fantastic team of industry professionals, a supporting group of 100 volunteers will play a vital role in delivering a safe and vibrant carnival. Members of the pubic are invited to sign up to a 3 hour shift as a festival steward, and can even do their shift with a friend.

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. Sign up to volunteer via the website here.