St Pauls Carnival 'is the best thing in Bristol and every year it gets better'

• Watch Ben McGrail's report as thousands of people descend on Bristol for St Pauls Carnival

Bristol’s streets were jam packed today as we welcomed back St Pauls Carnival after a four-year break.

The carnival celebrates Afro Caribbean culture through song, art, music and movement all year round before a colourful procession through the St Pauls area of Bristol on Carnival Day.

More than 100,000 people attend the free event, which also sees dozens of performances on stages and sound systems around St Pauls.

One resident said: "My dad used to bring us, and I want my kids to have these memories as well."

A performer said: "It’s everything. The carnival is the best thing in Bristol and every year it gets better. When you’re out there doing it, everyone’s looking at you and it feels incredible."

Another said: "We’ve had lockdown, had a lot of loss, and not had the chance to get together to celebrate. Today the energy is amazing, everybody is ready for this."

This year, the carnival has a 'Learning from Legends' theme which has inspired attractions like the Windrush Bus which kicked off the procession. 

It’s the 75th anniversary of Windrush Day and the 60th anniversary of the Bristol Bus Boycott.

Organiser Carole Johnson said before: “We’re celebrating and remembering the legends of the past.”

Lawrence Hoo, poet and educator, said: "It's great to see that it still continues. It's a legacy of a lot of our elders who are no longer here. This year is about the legends, we’re coming here to celebrate the contributions they’ve made."

One performer said: "It's all about the history for me, the heritage."

St Pauls has been running since 1968 and aims to bring different communities together. 

Stage manager, Aysha Tailor-White said before: “I remember coming when I was little. The excitement when the procession comes through, everyone having a dance at the stages - there’s a massive sense of community that comes with it.”

Speaking on the eve of the carnival, producer Jamell Ackford said: “There’s so much. [We’ve got] an array of different artists. - 99% is local talent which is great, Bristol is such a melting pot for artists and collaborations.”

Glen Crooks, is one of the people catering at the event and said: “I’m just glad it’s come back and people can have fun and I’m able to feed people.”

People from all over the UK come to the carnival, “to be entertained by us” according to artist Lorna Da-Angel. 

Schools got involved too. Ten took part in the procession, each representing a country with different costumes, dance routines, and live music. 

Nia Bimkubwa is a dance instructor who has worked with the schools. She said: “You’ve just got to move with it, you can’t stay still and that’s what I’ve found with the children. It’s vibrant, it’s just full of energy. And that’s who we are as Caribbean people.”

Carole Johnson said before: “It’s going to be a gigantic event, a legendary one we think. We’re just so glad to be back, we just want to bring a little sunshine on the streets.”

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