Caribbean weather arrives on cue for carnival spectacle
TENS OF thousands of people let their hair down at this year’s Leeds West Indian Carnival – and even Mother Nature joined in the celebrations.
The annual Bank Holiday Monday extravaganza – the oldest event of its kind in Europe – was blessed with Caribbeanstyle sunshine after a weekend dogged by wet weather.
Revellers ate dishes such as jerk chicken or curried goat with rice and peas as the carnival’s traditional afternoon parade wound its rhythmic way from Potternewton Park along Roundhay Road and Chapeltown Road. Potternewton Park itself was transformed into party central with arts and crafts stalls, fairground rides and music stages.
Carnival founder and chairman Arthur France said: “People have come from near and far to take part and from across the world to watch this amazing spectacle.”
Yesterday’s activities were just part of a busy carnival weekend, with the event’s king and queen – Lenard Carroll and Charlene Clarke – being crowned during a spectacular curtain-raiser show at West Yorkshire Playhouse on Friday evening.
The Leeds West Indian Carnival is estimated to be worth about £3.5m each year to the city’s economy.
Thousands of partygoers yesterday also attended the second and final day of London’s Notting Hill Carnival.