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Night Carnival 2011

6.45 - 9.30pm

Blackfriars Bridge and Victoria Embankment

Photo by Luigi Clemente

Caballos de Menorca, Tutatis’ giant horse constructions from Menorca and Joji Hirota's Taiko Drummers from Japan lead the Night Carnival’s 2,000 dancers, drummers, lantern-carriers and costumed masqueraders.

This year the Carnival route is reversed to give a much better viewing space on Victoria Embankment. The Carnival lines up on Upper Ground, heads north over Blackfriars Bridge and then turns left on to Victoria Embankment.

Participating groups for 2011:

Mandinga Arts The mythical chimera comes to life, weaving together human and animal, flora and fauna, fantasy and reality

Feltham Arts Association lotus flower lanterns, dhol drums and dancers

Inspiration Arts the intrigue of the senses: sound, sight, smell, touch and taste

Los Caporalles San Simon traditional Andean dance

Tutatis’ Caballos de Menorca giant horses from Menorca

HAFAD illuminated multi-coloured robot bug

London School of Samba Arabian Nights, Sinbad the Sailor, Aladdin, Ali Baba, et al

Flamingo Carnival Arts autumn-themed costumes

Akari lanterns led by Joji Hirota’s Taiko Drums with an enormous Odaiko drum

Creative Kidz Hammersmith and Fulham’s silver-masked, baton-twirling roller-skaters

Morenada Bloque Kantuta Andean dance from C17 in costumes made from stones and beans

Festive Road the great British obsession with tea

Sunshine International Arts melting pot marriage of mas culture and pollination

Tierra Mestiza Asociacion Cultural traditional costumes and dance from Ecuador and Bolivia

Emergency Exit Arts giant turtle ridden by an otherworldly DJ, protected by its guardians

Paddington Arts Elimu shades of red celebrated through soca, street dance and costumes

Brunel Engine House Museum Wild Girls dance with wheels of fire around the giant Brunel

Kinetika Bloco exuberant mix of young brass, woodwind players, drummers and dynamic dancers

Cardboard Citizens 'Rough Pearl' glows within an illuminated oyster shell to tribal samba-reggae rhythms

ArtStart a futuristic urban utopia

Latin American Multicultural Group featuring Bolivia and Ecuador's La Diablada and Grottos de Sabor

SE1 United vibrant, high energy youth-led street dance and lanterns.

APPLE creepy Victorian Spring Heeled Jack and the houses he haunts

Shademakers' Equida horse, family, history, war, power, knacker's yard

Genesis Carnival Band myths and treasures beneath the sea

Same Sky spectacular illuminated lanterns and puppets

Blocofogo Brazilian, Cuban and African rhythms

Fox Carnival Band a throng of pole carriers in purple

Paraiso School of Samba an authentic explosion of real Rio samba

Your comments

came for the last four years, Amazing no other word for it.bigger and better every year.lucky this year I had a trip on the Lady Daphne.Long live the Thames Festival..

By Tom Howard on 29 Sep 2011

was there in 2009 by chance, this year on purpose; great show and great time to enjoy, much compliments to the best group, as far as I’m concerned, the skeleton riders

By michele on 15 Sep 2011

The night carnival was fantastic but wish they had started at the junction of upper ground and Blackfriars bridge before turning corner, as a lot of us were there and some waited till they approached the bridge before starting up, but was still good. Alas I couldn’t stay for the fireworks this year as the wait was too long and it was a bit chilly, maybe you could have them on a webcam next year :)

By Jane on 13 Sep 2011

I hope one day soon Cirque nova ltd. may be invited to take part and parade with it’s artists over the night parade or perform as part of the festivities with our great work

By Jean-Marie Akkerman on 11 Sep 2011

Steve - the email address you gave was incorrect so replying here, hope you see this!  Carnival floats line up along Upper Ground, with the head of the procession to the east.  At 6.45pm the procession heads off, goes north over Blackfriars and turns left onto Victoria Embankment - the best place to watch it, and the Fireworks!

By Piers Mason on 10 Sep 2011

Does the carnival still pass all the way along upper ground?

By steve on 9 Sep 2011

I can wait for this fantastic entertainment of amazing music, art and dance for many countries.  I ho.pe the weather is nice too.

By Gladys Lopez on 7 Sep 2011

i have been a couple of times and have loved it,its exciting and friendly and what an atmosphere…........................definately the way to finsh your summer off with a bang…..........lets just pray the weather holds out for us….see you there…....:)

By Scott isbell on 7 Sep 2011

This event truly brigs communities and cultures together - we just love the Thames Festival!

By Accademia Apulia UK on 7 Sep 2011

went last year for the first time.  Didn’t know anything about the carnival and just turned up on the off chance.  It was absolutely brilliant - spectacular, exciting, friendly.  Just what London needs.

By Maureen Howard on 5 Sep 2011

Have a Lovely Night.

By esp23 on 5 Sep 2011

amazing

By sam on 3 Sep 2011

I have been for The last 3 yrs, with sister, girlfriend and family. I find It such a nice way of bringing different people together expressing themselves to show we aré The people of The world. 
A great day would be had by all.

By colin bell on 1 Sep 2011

i love this event and come to watch it every year. I particularly like the dancers with bells on their cowboy boots and would like to know who they are and where they are from.

By mark newman on 24 Aug 2011