By Lucy Budge From Nottingham Post

Thousands attend this year’s Caribbean Carnival in Nottingham

The city came alive with a flurry of feathered costumes, dancing and music for this year’s Caribbean Carnival.

The annual parade, attended by thousands, was held in Nottingham on Sunday.

Starting at Castle Gate and making its way through the Old Market Square, up Queen Street and Mansfield Road, the parade arrived at its final destination of the Forest Recreation Ground at around 5pm.

Among the many dancers and entertaining groups, the Spritzer Performing Arts School took centre stage with their extravagant Caribbean costumes which included a special carnival queen and princess.

Owner and dance teacher Amy Topham was proudly watching her dancers from atop a support van.

The former professional dancer, from Gedling, said: “We’re all having a great time at the carnival. We had a bit of a mad rush when we were trying to sort out our music at the last minute but everything was fine in the end!

“I’ve been walking up and down the parade throughout the day to look at all the different troupes. There’s an amazing energy across Nottingham today and a lot of people have come into the city centre for the parade.”

This is the fourth time that Amy has been involved in Nottingham’s Caribbean Carnival, but for young dancers Neisha Chambers and Jatayah Parkin, the festivity is a new experience.

Wearing bright red accessories and fringed dresses, the pair, who are both members of the Spritzer Performing Arts School, danced and clapped their way through the city centre.

Neisha, 12, who is a student at Blue Coat Academy and lives in Broxtowe, said: “This is my first time at the carnival but I’m very excited to be here. I wanted to come here and dance, because it’s what I love. I dance a lot at school too, when I grow up I want to be a back-up dancer for a music singer or group.”

Fellow dancer Jatayah was also excited to be a part of this year’s celebrations.

The 11-year-old from Bulwell, who is a student at Top Valley Academy, said: “I love dancing and today there is loads going on. I’m looking forward to dancing later on the stage at the carnival ground.”

As the parade took over the city centre, the Forest Recreation Ground was flooded with marquees, pop-up shops and food vendors for the annual carnival.

Open from noon until 7pm, the site hosted three music zones, a fairground, a children’s zone and a dancing stage.

For more on this story go to: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Caribbean-Carnival-hits-Nottingham-sea-colour/story-22759121-detail/story.html#ixzz3AgvG3V5n

Related story:

Bigger Caribbean carnival promised for Nottingham

From ITV

Organisers of today’s Caribbean Carnival in Nottingham have promised that this year’s will be the biggest and best yet.

Hundreds of dancers will parade from Nottingham Castle through the city from 2pm, to the Forest recreation ground, where people can enjoy music, food and dance.

Hundreds of dancers will take part in the procession through the city centre

On site there will be the Parade Stage, where 18 troupes will perform their dance routines, a fun fair and rides, numerous stalls selling a variety of foods, arts, crafts and providing information , an Arts Tent plus a free crèche and children’s zone.

Richard Renwick, Chair of the Nottingham Carnival Organising Committee.said:

“Our revised programme is going to deliver a fantastic free family day of high quality carnival art and lots of activities for all ages at the Carnival site. All the volunteers directly involved in helping to deliver this event have been working for several months to make this a great day out for the Nottingham public.”

IMAGES:

Nottingham Carnival in 2012 Credit: ITV News Central

Hundreds of dancers will take part in the procession through the city centre Credit: ITV News Central

For more on this story go to: http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2014-08-17/bigger-caribbean-carnival-promised-for-nottingham/