The first time I went to Carnival in London was when I had kids!
The idea of carnival as a parent always scared me but actually, there's so much fun to be had with your kids!
Last year was my first time going to Carnival! (I know, what kind of black Londoner am I?) I’ll boil it down to the fact that I don’t really love crowds and I had a lot of prejudice about what I thought it would be like.
But that all changed last year when I was 8.5 months pregnant and we went with our 5-year-old and 3-year-old children in tow.
Prior to last year, the idea of going to carnival with kids (let alone without) was scary. I thought about the sheer amount of people, the loud music, the rowdiness, the possibility of losing them etc. and so I was quite content to continue my no-carnival tradition and plan some other activity instead.
But for the last few years, as my kids grow older, the desire for them to be a part of a variety of experiences, to be exposed to diverse cultures, and to understand different communities has been intensifying- and whichever way I looked at it, I couldn’t deny that the Notting Hill Carnival serves all those purposes, and is just a stone’s throw away!
It also has a lot of historical significance - the first event was in 1966 and it is second in size only to Brazil’s Rio Carnival. It’s got a huge Caribbean influence and this year marked the 75th anniversary of the Windrush generation.
So there is way more to carnival than the negatives I worried about, and even though yes some are true… e.g. The music can be loud - there are still ways to mitigate against those things.
Here’s how:
So, first things first- we only go on the kids day which is on Sunday. We arrive nice and early from about 10 am and stay before it gets too busy and the streets start filling up, which is typically around 1.30/2 pm.
We start at the top (near the Kensal Green side) and make our way down the main road enjoying all the floats, cultures and costumes and then sooner or later, we branch off to one of the many side streets to find a spot to enjoy.
The side streets have the benefits of being much less crowded, having plenty of space for the kids to dance and enjoy themselves, and are lined with lots of Caribbean food stalls and coconut and sugar cane stands to fill your stomachs.
You can purchase memorabilia like flags, whistles and blow horns for the kids to enjoy to their heart’s content and make lots of noise!
This year, they opened up the fire station and they had lots of amazing free activities for kids from face painting and glitter to entering the fire truck and using the hose, playing with magnets and food - it was excellent! I hope that continues next year.
For the little babies, I’d recommend bringing ear muffs to help protect their little ears.
Remember that you can travel light and purchase most things in the carnival - umbrellas, whistles, water, even toilets in people’s houses (though there are free porta-loos (no comment)).
So there you have it- I’ve now been for two years on the trot and I can definitely see it being a yearly tradition (better late than never lol). The kids get the added benefit of seeing people who look like them, gathering together as a community to celebrate, dress up, dance and enjoy themselves. The vibe is A1, people are happy and positive and everyone is there for a good time- which always reflects in people’s interaction with your kids.
If you haven’t been with the kids, I encourage you to go next year! If you have, please share any extra tips you may have for a newbie like me :)