St Pauls Carnival

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St Pauls Carnival

We are history, tradition, heritage and family. We are art, music and dance. We are Carnival! 🙌🏾

St Pauls Carnival returns in 2019 for this iconic Bristol event representing the best of African Caribbean culture, as well as the diversity, creativity and vibrancy of its home city, Bristol. At the heart of carnival is our masquerade procession with highly ornate and colourful costumes and floats from local schools and cultural associations, a stage for professional performers, sound systems in neighbouring streets and a range of stalls selling food from a wide range of cultures. Get involved with community events, mas camps, fundraising activities and Carnival history projects and help us to make the 2018 edition an incredible spectacle and celebration. St Pauls' Carnival is supported by Bristol City Council and Arts Council England.

15/10/2026

A People's Carnival Needs Its People.

The future of St Pauls Carnival is something we can all help shape, and we're looking for people who want to be part of that journey.

As we look ahead to Carnival 2027 and our 60th anniversary in 2028, we're inviting new voices, experiences and perspectives to help shape Carnival's next chapter.

Join our online recruitment webinar, hosted by Lead Director Ricardo Sharry, to discover three ways to get involved:

Board of Directors: Help guide Carnival's future.

Community Advisory Board: Share your knowledge and community perspectives.

Carnival Ambassadors Network: Champion Carnival and bring communities together.

Learn more about the roles, our plans for Carnival 2027 and how to apply, with an opportunity to ask questions.

Thursday 29 October 2026
6:00pm | Online via Zoom

Our Carnival. Our Community. Our Future.

Register here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qeYnvLh3T2Kwg4vtNZWiww

14/10/2026

Black History Month in Bristol: There's so much happening across our city.

This year's theme, Honouring Our Communities, is a reminder of the people, stories and cultural traditions that continue to shape Bristol.

Throughout October, local organisations, artists and community groups are bringing Black history to life through music, film, exhibitions, workshops and events.

From exploring Bristol's sound system heritage and the stories of the Windrush generation to celebrating African textiles, creativity and community activism, there's something for everyone to discover.

At St Pauls Carnival, celebrating and preserving African-Caribbean heritage is at the heart of what we do. We're proud to shine a light on the people and organisations keeping these stories alive, not just during Black History Month, but throughout the year.

Swipe through to discover what's happening across Bristol this October.

For event details and booking links, read the full blog here: https://www.stpaulscarnival.net/news/celebrating-black-history-month-across-bristol

Bristol Museums St Pauls Learning Centre Watershed UWE Bristol BSWN: Black South West Network Kuumba Centre DJ Style

12/10/2026

A small favour from the Bristol Bus Boycott pioneers.

Joyce Morris-Wisdom and Dr Guy Bailey OBE have recorded a personal invitation asking Sir Lenny Henry to lead the tenth Paul Stephenson Lecture in Bristol in 2027.

To watch please follow the link

https://youtu.be/gb2RIW1ey6E?si=6G7qxH8Memrs64v0

09/10/2026

7 Black Bristolians you probably weren't taught about in school.

Bristol's Black history is filled with people whose courage, creativity and determination helped shape the city we know today.

From challenging racial discrimination and fighting for equality to transforming education and strengthening local communities, their stories are an important part of Bristol's cultural heritage.

For Black History Month, we're celebrating seven individuals whose contributions helped pave the way for future generations.

Some names you might recognise. Others you might be discovering for the first time.

At St Pauls Carnival, celebrating and preserving African-Caribbean heritage has always been at the heart of what we do. And that means making sure the stories of those who came before us continue to be heard.

How many of these seven Black Bristolians did you already know about?

Swipe through to discover their stories, and let us know in the comments who else you think deserves recognition.

08/10/2026

As we look ahead to Carnival 2027 and our 60th anniversary in 2028, we're inviting our community to be part of the next chapter.

Join us for our SPC Community Drop-in Session, where you can discover three ways to get involved:

Board of Directors: Help guide the strategic direction and future of Carnival.

Community Advisory Board: Bring your voice, experiences and cultural knowledge to the table.

Carnival Ambassadors Network: Champion Carnival, connect communities and encourage participation across Bristol.

Whether you're interested in leadership, passionate about your community or simply want to play a part in keeping Carnival's spirit alive, we'd love to meet you!

Date: Monday 26 October 2026
Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Address: Docklands Community Centre, 29 Brigstocke Road, St Paul's, Bristol BS2 8UA

No need to stay for the whole session. Drop in whenever suits you, meet the team, ask questions and enjoy some refreshments.

Our Carnival. Our Community. Our Future.

Find out more about the event here:
https://www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/ #/e164360

05/10/2026

St Pauls Carnival (Bristol) CIC is looking for an experienced Community Development & Participation Programme Officer to help lead our year-round Carnival 365 programme.

This role is all about building strong community relationships, creating meaningful opportunities for participation, volunteering and skills development, and ensuring community voices help shape the future of St Pauls Carnival.

Find out more about the role and how to apply:
https://www.stpaulscarnival.net/news/were-hiring-a-community-development-amp-participation-officer

04/10/2026

October is Black History Month in the UK, a time to reflect on, celebrate and honour Black history, culture and achievement.

Too often, the stories we hear focus on major figures from the US. This month, we want to bring the focus closer to home and celebrate Black British history, especially the Black Bristolian history being made right here in our city.

Across Bristol, individuals, communities and Black-owned businesses are shaping culture, creating change and paving the way for future generations. We want to recognise those stories now, before they are only found in the history books.

This Black History Month, we’re celebrating the people making an impact across Bristol today.

Tag or comment someone who is making history and deserves their flowers.

30/09/2026

Carnival 2027 won’t be built by one organisation. It will be built together.

Carnival 365 is our year-round approach to strengthening St Pauls Carnival bringing community, culture, learning, partnerships and good governance into the work long before Carnival weekend arrives. The roadmap is built around six connected themes that guide that journey.

And this September, the focus is community ownership.

We want to hear from the people who know, love, create and experience Carnival: local residents, volunteers, artists, performers, traders, sound systems, partner organisations and Carnival-goers.

Your experiences and ideas will help shape what comes next.

The community survey is open now.
Link here: https://www.stpaulscarnival.net/news/share-your-thoughts-for-carnivals-future

Closes 3 October 2026

23/09/2026

SPC was live on BBC Radio Bristol yesterday, talking about Carnival 365 and our independent community research survey.

We launched the survey because we didn’t want to guess what the community wants, we wanted to ask properly.

We’re hearing from residents, volunteers, artists, performers, traders, sound system representatives, partner organisations and everyone with a stake in Carnival.

We’re asking what Carnival means to you, what you would protect, how you’d like to take part, and what needs to change for future generations.

Thank you to BBC Radio Bristol for helping us share the conversation.

Missed it live? Listen back on BBC Sounds.

You can also read more about the story and our work through BBC Bristol’s coverage here:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ck1e5ygnz7leo

The survey closes on 3 October.

Your voice matters. The survey closes on 3rd October: https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRsn8Waj8vXq6499UoOrSLnxxfyKpfIxiuAIpPMCeCwq_LJg/viewform?usp=send_form

21/09/2026

SPC will be live on BBC Radio Bristol tomorrow, Tuesday 22 September, from around 7:40am.

We’ll be talking about Carnival 365 and our independent community research survey.

When we launched the survey, we said we did not want to guess what the community wants. We wanted to ask properly.

We’ll explain why that matters. What happens with your responses. And how you can get involved.

The survey is open to anyone with a stake in Carnival.

That includes residents, volunteers, artists, performers, traders, sound system reps, partner organisations and anyone who has ever come out to watch.

We’re asking what Carnival means to you. What you would protect. How you would like to take part. And what needs to change so Carnival can continue for future generations.

Listen live on BBC Radio Bristol.

The survey closes on 3rd October. Complete the survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRsn8Waj8vXq6499UoOrSLnxxfyKpfIxiuAIpPMCeCwq_LJg/viewform?usp=send_form

Address

Bristol

Telephone

+447514238380

Website

http://www.stpaulscarnival.net/

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