Tim Hughes looks forward to Oxford’s noisiest – and most fun – day out, the Cowley Road Carnival

Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans, Notting Hill...Cowley Road. Okay, when it comes to the world’s big street parties East Oxford’s homegrown celebration may lack a little of the glamour of its more famous rivals.

But when it comes to fun, talent and community involvement, Cowley Road Carnival can’t be beaten.

This annual feast of music, food, dancing and general good times is one of the most hotly anticipated events of the year. And with 700 people in the procession and well over 45,000 on the street, the carnival is the biggest public event in Oxfordshire.

A genuine community event, it encompasses most sectors of the local area, manifesting itself in the form of a freewheeling, multi-cultural, fun-loving afternoon of music, food, dance and celebration that is the envy of many other cities. And, like the best things in life (allegedly) – it’s free.

This year sees the carnival restored to its former glory with a procession along the length of the street – from The Plain to Magdalen Road – an improvement on last year’s truncated event. And even though the party will be an hour shorter (running from noon to 5pm on what organisers call “police advice” – to the consternation of some), it looks like being a packed afternoon with something for all fun-seekers – as long as they don’t mind loud music, boisterous crowds and some truly unco-ordinated dancing.

“It’s Oxford’s answer to Notting Hill,” says festival spokesman Sarah Airey. “Though ours is much more family friendly.”

She goes on: “The event runs the whole length of Cowley Road and adjacent streets and we are building on the huge success of last year’s event by looking forward to another brilliant carnival. Last year’s was great – but this will be even better.”

Music will take place at 16 sites along the road and its side streets, with a mix of live music and DJs playing everything from reggae to house music and soul to samba.

“The line-up looks good,” Sarah says. “There is absolutely something for everybody. Whatever musical genre people like, there’ll be a band or DJ for them.”

There will also be the usual range of food stalls, covering a world of flavours from Kingston to Kuala Lumpur, and Beirut to Bangladesh. A new addition this year will be a beach area, dubbed Cowleyfornia, with sand provided by Cowley construction supply company Buildbase. With the addition of music, deckchairs and a skate ramp, organisers hope to recreate Oxford’s own answer to Los Angeles’ Venice Beach – but without the sea, smog and (hopefully) posing bodybuilders.

“It’s all a bit of fun,” says Sarah. “And although we can’t deliver the sea, hopefully we’ll have the sun.”

The event also features a family area, catering to younger festival-goers. “It’s not just for teenagers and young adults,” adds Sarah. “It’s for families as well, and we are encouraging people to come along and bring a picnic.

“We are uniting the whole community to celebrate the diversity of East Oxford. It brings everyone together all year round – whether through school’s taking part in the procession, people joining dance workshops or community groups fundraising.

Oxford Mail:

  • Carnival stalwart Aidan Larkin

“And the best thing is, it is free – though we are asking people to donate a quid in return for a programme, which will go a long way towards covering the cost of the carnival.”

With a chequered history caused by patchy funding, it is important the carnival pays its own way. And Sarah is at pains to point out its benefits to the county.

“It’s something the whole of Oxfordshire should be proud of,” she says. “It’s the biggest community event and is free, so everyone and anyone can come along and spend an afternoon enjoying whatever they want – from great music and lively dance to amazing food. It’s a magical event.”

Aidan Larkin has been a fixture at the carnival for as long as anyone can remember, spinning a wholesome mix of reggae, vintage ska and dancehall.

He said: “Oxford should be proud of carnival but also accept what it is – an event that closes at 5pm.”

So is he excited about Sunday? “We’ve had two scorchers in a row and I’m looking forward to another. I can see the carnival from my window and there’s no better feeling than waking up to the sound of bass coming from down the road.”