Editor’s Pick of the Week: More election fall out, speeding footballers and funding reviewsFrom Zulu dancing to inflatable lobsters: Everything you need to know about Harrogate Carnival

Harrogate town centre will become a cultural hub tomorrow when it welcomes the return of Harrogate Carnival.

Launched in 2019, the carnival is commissioned by Visit Harrogate – a tourism organisation run by North Yorkshire Council and produced by Harrogate International Festivals.

The free one-day event will showcase an array of world music and entertainment, as well as street theatre, a dance stage, and a food quarter.

Live dance and music performances will fill the streets of the town, including Leeds West Indian Carnival, Zulu performers, Ubunye, and St Aelred’s Irish Dance Group.

There will be an interactive display from Close-Act, an inflatable lobster from Lobster A la Cart, as well as moving sculptures from Hebden Bridge’s Handmade Parade.

A Chinese dragon will take centre stage.

Foodies will find cuisines from around the world, from Greek gyros to Japanese rice dishes to Turkish kebabs and churros.

People can also take part is various workshops to learn about international cultures, including a dhol drumming workshop with Punjabi Roots.

The parade will begin at 11am from the war memorial and will finish in the Valley Gardens.

Several roads will be closed between 10am to 1pm during the carnival, including Cambridge Road, Royal Parade and West Park.

More details on road closures can be found on North Yorkshire Council’s website.

A full programme of acts can be found here.

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Harrogate Carnival to be held on July 30

Harrogate Carnival is set to take place on Sunday, July 30.

The free event will begin with a street parade through the town centre before heading to Valley Gardens.

The attractions will include a troupe from Leeds West Indian Carnival and a dance stage with belly dancing.

First staged in 2019, the carnival is commissioned by Destination Harrogate, which is a tourism organisation run by North Yorkshire Council and produced by Harrogate International Festivals.

The event, which celebrates global diversity, costumes, sounds and flavours, will include music, dance, themed food zones, art and craft workshops and street theatre.

John McGivern, destination events manager at Destination Harrogate, said:

“This exciting and unique event is perfectly suited to the Valley Gardens, one of many fantastic event spaces that we’re fortunate to have here in Harrogate.

“Carnival will also draw visitors from further afield to join in the celebrations with our residents, with opportunity to boost our visitor economy and showcase the town as an amazing visitor destination.”

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Cllr Derek Bastiman, the council’s executive member for open to business,  said:

“Carnival is a chance for our community to come together, embrace diversity and create lasting memories.”

The full programme will be announced closer to the date on the Harrogate International Festivals website for more information: https://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/

The arts charity is seeking volunteers to take part in the carnival.

In Pictures : the joy of Harrogate Carnival

Thousands lined the streets of Harrogate today as a colourful parade of dancers, costumes and music from all over the globe made its way from the centre of town to Valley Gardens.

This year’s Carnival was paid for by Harrogate Borough Council‘s tourism body, Destination Harrogate, and was put on by Harrogate International Festivals. Unlike the last carnival in 2019 when the weather was atrocious, this year the rain held off allowing everyone to have a great time.

Here are some images that aim to capture that carnival spirit:

 

Carnival to return to Harrogate this month

Carnival is set to take place in Harrogate this month with an international parade through the town centre and a celebration featuring music and dance in Valley Gardens.

The free, family-friendly festival will take place on Saturday, July 30 and will feature performers from Leeds West Indian Carnival, who will parade through Harrogate town centre joined by Houriat Belly Dancing, Sweep of Swallows kite puppets, Chinese dragon dancers, brass bands and more.

Following the morning parade, an all-day celebration will take place in Valley Gardens including street theatre, interactive workshops, international street food and two stages hosting music and dance performances.

The event, which was previously held in 2019, has been paid for by Harrogate Borough Council‘s tourism body, Destination Harrogate, and will be delivered by Harrogate International Festivals.

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John McGivern, destination events manager at Destination Harrogate, said:

“Carnival is an awesome family-friendly and multicultural event that both local residents and visitors can enjoy, and we’re delighted to be bringing it back to the Harrogate district this year.

“It feels like a great time to celebrate, not only a wonderful event, but with early signs from the recently released STEAM* and STR** figures suggesting a strong start to the summer season, we can look forward to this event also boosting the recovery of our visitor economy.

“Carnival helps to showcase the quality of the Harrogate district as a unique events destination, and we’re excited for our amazing summer continuing with this fantastic celebratory event.”

Sharon Canavar, chief executive, Harrogate International Festivals, said:

“After an incredibly tough couple of years for our community it is wonderful to be able to celebrate with a huge party and celebration in our beautiful open spaces. The Carnival is free for everyone to attend and celebrate the diversity, colours, costumes, sounds and flavours from the four quarters of the world, right here in Harrogate. With global music and dance stages, themed food zones, art and craft workshops and street theatre, this family-friendly day is a true party in every sense of the word.

“Think Rio in Rhododendrons, parade in the petunias, sounds in the sun colonnades, food in the flora and dancing in the dahlias, and you will begin to get a taste of what the day holds in store.”

Carnival coming to Harrogate as part of summer programme

Harrogate is to hold a carnival for the first time in three years as part of a summer programme of cultural activities announced today.

Harrogate International Festivals will stage nine nights of events. starting on July 28 with the Brodsky Quartet at St Wilfrid’s Church.

Other highlights include the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, featuring authors such as Lynda La Plante, Michael Connelly and Ann Cleeves and the return of the Spiegeltent, including festivals favourite Graeme Park and a burlesque performance.

Mark Billingham (left) and Richard Osman (right) at the crime writing festival last year

Musicians and dancers will parade through the town centre on July 30 as part of a Rio de Janeiro-themed carnival.

The free family event, which has been commissioned by Harrogate Borough Council., will start with a parade through the town centre, featuring dancers and musicians.

It will finish in Valley Gardens where there will be street food stands, dance classes, jugglers, and live music.

This year’s programme also includes Oddsocks Productions’ performance of Shakespeare’s Hamlet  at RHS Harlow Gardens, numerous classical and chamber music events and Berwins Salon North hosting a variety of TED talks discussing the power of influence.  

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Harrogate International Festivals chief executive, Sharon Canavar said:  

“Our final event of our 2022 summer programme is a real show-stopper.

“Carnival is an all-day, free family event which will bring the world to Harrogate as we celebrate a wealth of different cultures through dance, music and food.”

Since the pandemic, Harrogate International Festivals has held most events online.  

Ms Canavar said:  

“Two years ago, covid shut the events industry down overnight — and our very future was left hanging by a thread.”

The full programme is available here.