Get ready for the return of Margate Carnival

By Dan Thompson

After a two year break, Margate Carnival returns to the town’s streets this Sunday ( August 7).

The annual event will leave Palm Bay at 2.30pm, before heading along the seafront passing Turner Contemporary, the Old Town, and Dreamland, before ending at Westbrook.

Margate Carnival is the biggest community arts event in the town and features local community groups, dance schools, youth groups, and businesses. Hundreds of people take part, with over 50 entries in the procession this year, and thousands of people line the streets.

Many locals join in, hosting parties and get-together in their own homes and gardens to watch the procession, and a number of homes for older people make sure their residents come out to watch, too.

Margate Carnival has its roots in processions which date back over 120 years.

Anyone wanting to get into the Margate Carnival spirit can join workshops led by the Great British Carnival this week, and make their own carnival costume. Workshops will take place with service users at East Kent Mencap, Northdown Road on Tuesday, and then there are drop in workshops for the public at Silvers, High Street, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

All workshops run from 11am-4pm and are free to take part. They are supported by a grant from Arts Council England.

Margate Carnival organiser Jack Packman said: “It’s great to be back, as we bring Margate’s many communities together again after a tough couple of years for our local voluntary and groups.”

On Sunday, as Margate Carnival moves across the town, the following roads will be closed: Palm Bay Avenue, Eastern Esplanade, Ethelbert Crescent, Fort Crescent, Fort Hill, Marine Drive, Marine Terrace, Canterbury Road ending at Royal Esplanade.

For more information, find the Margate Carnival page on Facebook.