St Pauls Carnival Bristol: Everything you need to know including start time, special guests & road closures

St Pauls Carnival returns to Bristol this weekend for its annual celebration of African Caribbean culture. More than 100,000 people are expected to take part in the comeback event, which is the first full Carnival since 2019 and marks the Windrush 75th Anniversary.

The procession is one of the day’s highlights - this year’s theme is Learning from Legends and will see procession groups pay homage to founders and legends past, present and future.

The glittering parade will include 30 procession troupes as well as children from 10 schools across Bristol. Expect dancing, colourful costumes and drumming along with special guests including chairman of the event Levi Roots.

Here’s everything you need to know including procession location and start time, which special guests will be appearing and road closure information.

When is St Pauls Carnival?

St Pauls Carnival takes place on Saturday, July 1 2023. The procession officially starts at 12.30pm.

Where is St Pauls Carnival?

The procession will begin at St Pauls Street/Portland Square in St Pauls, Bristol before making its way around the area.. Here is a map of the parade route:

What road closures will be in place for St Pauls Carnival?

The following roads will be subject to closures between 2pm on Friday, June 30 until 7am on Sunday, July 2.

These roads are:

• Albert Park
• Cumberland Street
• Morgan Street
• Argyle Road
• Dalrymple Road
• Newfoundland Road
• Ashley Rd (East)
• Davey Street
• Norfolk Avenue
• Badminton Road
• Dean Street
• Orange Street
• Barnabas Street
• Denbigh Street
• Pembroke Street
• Beggars Well Close
• Dove Lane
• Portland Square
• Bishop Street
• Drummond Road
• Princes Street
• Backfields East Grove
• Pritchard Street
• Backfields Lane
• Elton Street
• St Nicholas Road
• Brighton Street
• Fern Street
• St Pauls Street
• Brigstocke Road
• Franklyn Lane
• Shaftesbury Avenue
• Brook Lane
• Franklyn Street
• Surrey Street
• Brook Hill
• Gloucester Street
• Thomas Street
• Brook Road
• Grosvenor Road
• Tudor Road
• Brunswick Street
• Gwyn Street
• York Street
• Brunswick Square
• Halston Drive
• Upper York Street
• Burnell Drive
• Hepburn Road
• Wellington Road

St Pauls residents will be able to move their vehicles to a secure parking site at Dove Lane from 8am on Friday, June 30 and will have to show proof of address to gain access. The road closures will prevent any vehicles from entering the St Pauls area after 2pm.

Any vehicles remaining on the priority routes from 6pm will be towed to Dove Lane. Residents can retrieve vehicles on Sunday, July 2 from 7am.

Pedestrian and emergency access will be maintained to all properties throughout the event.

Which special guests will be appearing?

These confirmed special guests, among others, will appear at the event at the start of the procession. They include:

• Family members representing founder Dr Roy Hackett MBE, Jamaican-born activist and long-time civil rights campaigner for the British African-Caribbean community in Bristol, Jason and Cameron Hackett
• Asher Craig - Deputy Mayor
• Michelle Curtis - artist, Seven Saints of St Pauls
• Sister Nwanyi - Kuumba Centre

They will be joined by St Pauls Carnival’s executive director, LaToyah McAllister-Jones and chair Levi Roots.

What is St Pauls Carnival?

Since its beginnings back in 1968, St Pauls Carnival has “grown in size and reputation to become one of the UK’s most accessible and inclusive events”. The event brings the history and heritage of Carnival to communities all year round including via its Schools Programme.

The event’s mission is to “celebrate the life and evolving stories of Bristol’s African Caribbean communities through the creative spirit of song, art, music and movement with key focus on Artistic, Cultural and Educational excellence”. The event provides an annual programme of activities culminating in a weekend of Carnival celebrations on the first Saturday of July each year.

For more information visit the St Pauls Carnival website.