Notting Hill Carnival's final day kicks off in a spectacle of costumes
Notting Hill Carnival’s final day kicks off in a spectacle of costumes and performance as floats set off through the streets
- Read more: Notting Hill Carnival 2023 LIVE: Latest updates from west London
The Notting Hill Carnival is underway for it’s final day of celebrations as a spectacle of beautiful costumes and performances flood West London’s streets.
The annual event is the largest street party in Europe and it’s estimated that two million people have attended over the bank holiday weekend.
People can be seen partying atop floats followed by feathered bands dancing to the beat.
Meanwhile the sweet, smoky scent of jerk chicken filled the side streets where sound systems played everything from rare groove to house, samba, reggae and ska.
Originating from the late 1950s and 60s, Carnival is a community-led celebration honouring music, dancing, food and drink rooted in Caribbean culture.
Samba dancers take part in the Notting Hill Carnival in London
The flamboyant performers are adorned with brightly coloured outfits and jewels
A reveller smiles for the camera on the last day of the festival’s activities
Monday’s Carnival celebrations is said to be ‘adults day’
Participants flood West London’s streets for a day of food, drinking and partying
Today’s parade is said to be particularly focusing on ‘adults day’, which involves lots of dancing and partying.
The festival will also celebrate and remember the 75th anniversary of the docking of HMT Empire Windrush.
The introduction of sound systems and mas bands 50 years ago transformed it into a large-scale event.
All throughout London, colourfully costumed samba dancers and bands will be seen parading through the streets.
Blaring music and feathered and bejewelled revellers have made all the tweaks needed to their outfits.
On Sunday evening the Metropolitan Police said the mood at the carnival had been ‘good-natured throughout the day’ as they announced that a Section 60 order, providing officers with additional search powers, would be imposed overnight until 2am.
The force described it as a “precautionary step” following “information” that some people had travelled to the area carrying knives.
Two carnival-goers perform hand-stands for ambulance crews
A samba dancer shows off her spectacular outfit for the final day of Carnival
The annual event is said to be the largest street party in Europe
Participants pass through Westbourne Park during the adults parade
A samba dancer takes part in the Notting Hill Carnival in London
It’s estimated that two million people have attended over the bank holiday weekend
In an update released just before midnight on Sunday, the Met said 85 people had been arrested, including 11 for sexual assault and 10 for assault on a police officer.
Dozens of officers were seen on Monday patrolling local parks and searching through bins for suspicious items and under the tarpaulin laid down to protect the grass.
Yesterday, Carnival-goers observed a 72-second silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire.
In a tweet, the carnival said: ’72 Second Silence: Please remember to observe a 72-second silence at 3pm in honour of those who died in the Grenfell fire.
‘We ask all attendees, participating bands and sound systems to work with us as organisers and the community to help pay our respects.’
More performers were pictured dancing their way through the streets earlier today
On Sunday evening the Metropolitan Police said the mood at the carnival had been ‘good-natured throughout the day’
More performers take part in the Notting Hill Carnival
A performer in costume smiles for the camera
An NHS supporter attends the Notting Hill Carnival celebration in west London
In an update released just before midnight on Sunday, the Met said 85 people had been arrested
These arrests included 11 for sexual assault and 10 for assault on a police officer
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