Carrying Olympic spirit into carnival celebration (From Croydon Guardian)

Carrying Olympic spirit into carnival celebration

8:47am Tuesday 21st August 2012 in Freetime By Nazia Dewji, Reporter

Kingston Carnival organisers have promised this year’s cultural event will be bigger and better than ever before.

The annual carnival held in the town centre will boast a vibrant and colourful procession, music for all and food from around the world in Kingston’s final Olympic offering to the community.

Organisers have even managed to get up and coming band the Skints to headline the festival’s main stage on the day.

Music will also include performances from African bands, Latin American bands, 1970s revival groups and community groups to name a few.

Live musicians, spectacular street performers and dancers from Notting Hill Carnival will also be coming along to the event on Sunday, September 2, from midday.

Co-ordinator Preeti Shetty said: “This year’s event is the closing event of Kingston’s cultural Olympiad. We are going to be bigger and better than before.

“We are introducing culture and all of its diversity. We are really excited.

“After having so many Olympic events here we are all feeling really good about being in Kingston.

“I am really looking forward to the carnival.”

To get into the carnival spirit organisers have arranged a variety of fun and exciting workshops such as circus skills, street dancing and costume-making which are open to all ages ahead of the carnival.

The carnival, which celebrates cultural diversity and heritage, is jointly organised by Kingston Race and Equalities Council in association with Global Arts, Kingston Town Centre Management and Kingston Council.

Founder John Azah said: “People are in a feelgood mood and we want to bring the world into Kingston.

“We hope the spirit people have shown during the Olympic celebration will also be in Kingston this year.”

For more information on workshops and the carnival visit krec.org.