About us

Carnival

is a celebration of African Caribbean culture. It is an event where every float, stage, performer and person tells a story. A story of music, dance and community.

Since its beginnings back in 1968, St Pauls Carnival has grown in size and reputation to become one of the UK’s most accessible and inclusive events. Our aim is to inform, inspire and engage people socially and artistically through African Caribbean culture.

Our Carnival 365 programme brings the history and heritage of Carnival to communities all year round – from a world class Carnival Day, to community events, to an Education Programme bringing talks and workshops to over 6,000 students a year.

In 2017, St Pauls Carnival Community Interest Company (CIC) was formed to help create a stable and sustainable future for our iconic event. The work we do is made possible due to the amazing support from our wonderful partners, sponsors and donors who are willing to invest in our community.

Support Us

Our mission

To celebrate the life and evolving stories of Bristol’s African Caribbean communities through the creative spirit of song, art, music and movement with key focus on Artistic, Cultural and Educational excellence, by providing an annual programme of activities culminating into a weekend of Carnival celebrations on the first Saturday of July in Bristol that is embedded into the cultural and artistic calendar.

our values

• Equality and diversity - Treating individuals with respect and dignity and valuing difference; Committed to equality and diversity in the application and production of our work

• Excellence - both artistic and management practices

• Access - extend access and build audiences

• Accountability - to stakeholders

• Flexibility - to allow the organisation to adapt and develop

• Integrity - striving to work ethically at all times

• Sustainability - as an organisation, a service provider and in its relationships

Our History

Economic migrants from the Caribbean settled in St Pauls in the 1950s alongside other migrant communities from Ireland and Asia. The area provided affordable housing and a sense of community for those far from home.

In 1968, ‘St Pauls Festival’ held its first celebration - a local event held by residents and activists who wanted to celebrate their culture and share it with others. It was founded by seven community activists of the Windrush generation who were part of the Bristol Bus Boycott. St Pauls Carnival is a constant reminder of how the Windrush generation created a social cohesion project that has a 52-year history and celebrates the founders who have been instrumental in making change. The celebration of the legacies of our founders, people like Roy Hackett OBE, Paul Stephenson OBE and Barbara Deterring, who are still to this day involved in the annual celebration, is significant not only to Bristol but to the UK. This event is a source of pride to our young people, work for community artists and brings together many communities.

Over the years the event attracted tens of thousands of people thanks to its good vibes, booming sound systems and colourful parade. In 1991 it became known as St Pauls Afrikan Caribbean Carnival.

Due to its popularity, the small streets of St Pauls were inundated with revellers and organisers were forced to cease the festival from 2015 to 2017. Some people suggested that the community roots of the Carnival had been lost and the party was too commercial.

In 2018, with the formation of the St Pauls Community Interest Company, the Carnival returned to celebrate its 50th birthday in style. Alongside a street party like no other, Carnival 365 was launched seeing practitioners, artists and spokespeople visit Bristol schools and share the heritage and culture of Carnival.