AS the nights get longer and the days get shorter the bright lights and vibrant colours at Oxford’s biggest annual extravaganzas may seem like a very long way off.

But for recently-installed executive director at Cowley Road Works Micaela Tuckwell the seminal Cowley Road bash is very much at the forefront of her mind.

Oxford’s Cowley Road Carnival, which regularly attracts tens of thousands of revellers each year, will again descend on the city streets on July 7.

Oxford resident Ms Tuckwell took over the reins, assuming overall responsibility for the event, in April after replacing departing director Johannah Aynsley.

Speaking of her first year in the role, and her first experiences with the carnival as a festival goer, she said: “I am still relatively new to the organisation but thankfully I have to hand a really experienced carnival team, as well as wealth of regular volunteers, artists and musicians, who can keep things running smoothly as I still learn the ropes.

“I have enjoyed coming to the Cowley Road Carnival ever since I moved to Oxford in 2007. I remember attending that first event and feeling a sense of utter joy with the sounds and smells and controlled mayhem of the carnival.

“I remember thinking 'I’ve moved to the right place' as a music lover and musician, the main thing I love about Cowley Road Carnival is the opportunity to be introduced to such a wide range of local DJs and bands over the course of just one day.

“I want to make sure that Cowley Road Carnival thrives for future generations to enjoy and that’s why my vision for Cowley Road Carnival is one that sees us working even more closely with the communities and businesses of East Oxford, involving and being led by local people.”

The street party was originally held as part of a regeneration scheme for East Oxford and the first carnival, as it is now known, was held in Manzil Way in 2001.

Ms Tuckwell said that the annual event has always been very much at the heart of the community it serves.

She said: “Bringing people together from all walks of life and backgrounds is at the core of all our activities.

“We work with the entire community, including businesses, Cowley Road retailers and traders, the universities and schools as well as ethnic and cultural groups.”

For the 2018 carnival organisers said at the time that they were ‘disappointed’ after the team raised just over £8,000 from street donations, despite needing to raise a total of £130,000 annually to keep hosting the event.

More than 50,000 revellers hit the streets of East Oxford for the last event and making sure the funds are in place to keep the carnival alive is very much at the forefront of organisers' minds.

Speaking of the funding for the event she said: “All preparation and organisation costs money.

“All the things that go into making such a huge festival all have to be paid for, like security and stewarding, staging and first aid, loos and the clean-up. It is one of the reasons why we want our carnival-goers to understand the costs, so that they can also understand why we ask for contributions towards those costs on the day and throughout the year.

“We have to pitch for grants from organisations such as the Arts Council which is currently supporting our accessible arts project, as well as other sources of funds and sponsors.

“This must be done every year, and takes a huge amount of time, with funding extremely hard to come by.

“We are always looking for businesses and other organisations who would like to work with us, sponsoring the carnival in some way, or even a specific element of the event. In each case the partnership is unique and specially tailored to each organisation.

“We have a very small and dedicated part-time team to make all of this happen, and for the last few months we work flat-out.”

She added: “If we lost carnival as an event, we would quite simply lose this community spirit. Genuinely there is nothing that could replace our work as a catalyst in bringing the whole community together and the sheer joy in the day itself.”

Speaking of what goes into hosting such a large event Ms Tuckwell said: “As soon as one carnival is over, we start working on the next. It is a huge undertaking as you can imagine.

“We have around 50,000 people converging on the Cowley Road and surrounding area on carnival day itself, and that takes time and preparation in ensuring that everything is organised to keep them safe, secure and looked after during the day, as well as providing a packed programme of entertainment to enjoy and things to do.

“The procession regularly has around 500-600 people and more from around 30-plus groups including schools, musicians, dancers and other community groups.

“We help to plan, design and make costumes and structures as well as dance moves and music at our workshops which are kindly hosted by Oxford Brookes University.”

Plans are already afoot for the 2019 event, she said, with workshops at Cowley’s MINI Plant to work with apprentices again next year and the day’s entertainment is already being booked.

She said: “We are already talking to the hundreds of bands and other performers, some of whom come from outside the county and traders and charities who all want to be part of our big day.

“Planning with the council is already well underway for next year’s carnival. We have several meetings and very detailed safety and event planning for the day. There is nothing more important than making sure that the day runs safely and smoothly.

“We like to involve as many local groups, schools, businesses, charities and other organisations as we can. It is precisely the inclusion of so many diverse individuals and groups that makes our event so very special and unique.

“There is no other occasion that rivals carnival for the sheer celebration in bringing together so many different people in one fabulous united celebration.”

The carnival organisers are now seeking volunteer trustees to help with the organisation of the charity and the main event and anybody who wants to get in touch should contact admin@cowleyroadworks.org