Street carnival to return after five years

The last street carnival was in 2019 on Cowley Road, Oxfordshire

An annual summer carnival is to return for the first time since the pandemic.

Oxford's Cowley Road Carnival, which attracts tens of thousands of people, was not held during the Covid pandemic and took a further break last year due to financial funding.

Organisers said they were "thrilled" to announce their "triumphant" return on 1 September.

The carnival used to take place on the first Sunday in July.

Twenty thousand people are expected to attend this years carnival in September

This year's event is embracing a theme called, "Our Nature, Our Future", which aims to focus on environmental sustainability.

The carnival has been run by Cowley Road Works (CRW) for more than 20 years and is funded by Oxford City Council and Arts Council England.

This year organisers said: "We are ready to make a significant impact and commitment to sustainability."

Carnival goers are being encouraged to use recycled materials for their outfits, ensuring that creativity does not come at the expense of the environment.

They are also being urged to plan for the sustainable disposal of materials post-carnival.

Carnival goers in previous years have dressed in sequins and sparkles to celebrate

Artistic director Pax Nindi said: "This year, we will continue with the use of eco-friendly floats for the procession and recycled materials for costume-making, as well as encourage sustainability."

He added: "In line with our theme, we are committed to promoting sustainable practices throughout the carnival - our programming reflects this dedication."

Mr Nindi said that, despite the change of the event's traditional date, he was "very confident" it would be successfully delivered.

"July could be very tight," he said.

"Last year we were ready to do it, then all of a sudden we got lumbered with a big bill before we could even start.

"This time we're sorting out all our payments beforehand."

The street carnival includes a procession with floats and live bands

One of the first steel bands to come to the UK from Trinidad in celebration of the Festival of Britain will perform at this year's event, celebrating 60 years on the road.

The band will perform on stage and during the procession, playing without the use of a float - emphasising the commitment to sustainability.

An event highlight will be the carnival house floats, where residents and businesses are asked to transform their homes and properties throughout the month of August, with a judging panel selecting the best design a week before.