Get ready for Edinburgh Festival Carnival
This is billed as Edinburgh's biggest free multicultural celebration.
With a dazzling mix of music, dance, costume, and colour, this vibrant event brings together local and international artists to share the rich cultural traditions that make Edinburgh a truly global city.
Carnival stands as a powerful celebration of unity, creativity, and mutual respect. It is a space where people from all walks of life, particularly those who are underrepresented or marginalised, can take part, share their heritage, and connect through the joy of performance.
From 1pm on Sunday 13 July, 750 local and international performers will parade through West Princes Street Gardens with music, dance, costumes, and puppets. This year's event features three parades:
1pm: Local, national and international community groups perform as part of The World in One City
3pm: Edinburgh Chinese Art & Culture
5pm: Latin American Community Association of Edinburgh (LACAE)
Hosted by actor, writer and comedian, Sanjay Largo, the Ross Bandstand programme opens at 2pm with Peruvian rhythms from Edinburgh's Cumbiatones, followed by reggae, afro and Latin sounds from Glasgow four-piece band Samson Sounds at 4pm.
The programme closes with Soca and Caribbean rhythms from Scrappy Sinon & Tropical Storm Band at 6pm. The afternoon also features sets from DJ Dynamite.
Between 1pm and 5pm, there will also be two zones with a full programme of dancing, drumming and circus performances.
On Sunday 6 July, the Edinburgh Youth Carnival takes place at Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre from 1-5pm.
Edinburgh Festival Carnival is produced by Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, with a dedicated Carnival team headed up by Giles Agis, Carnival & Communities Manager.
Cllr. Jason Rust, Chair of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival said: 'The Edinburgh Festival Carnival returns this year and it's fantastic to see local communities and international artists coming together to create an awe-inspiring spectacle in the city centre. This free event is perfect for all family, and I am proud of all the hard work of the team to bring Carnival to Edinburgh's city centre.'
Giles Agis, Carnival & Communities Manager said: 'The Edinburgh Festival Carnival brings people together in joyful defiance of those who would rather see us divided. The Carnival is a space where Edinburgh's diverse communities, many of whom face barriers to the arts, can unite to celebrate culture, creativity, and solidarity. It's more than a show; it's a statement of belonging.'
Edinburgh Festival Carnival 2023 took place in West Princes Street Gardens PHOTO ©2023 Martin McAdam
Edinburgh Festival Carnival 2023 took place in West Princes Street Gardens PHOTO ©2023 The Edinburgh Reporter
Edinburgh Festival Carnival 2023 took place in West Princes Street Gardens PHOTO ©2023 The Edinburgh Reporter
Edinburgh Festival Carnival Launch, Princes' Street Gardens, Edinburgh, 7th July 2022 © 2022 J.L. Preece
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