One of the spectacular costumes at last year’s Leeds West Indian Carnival. Image Credit: Keith Pattison

Organisers of Leeds West Indian Carnival are in full preparation mode with this weekend signaling less than 100 days to go until Europe’s longest running authentic Caribbean carnival parade takes to the streets of Leeds.

Thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the city on Bank Holiday Monday 31st August to experience the glittering parade of floats and hundreds of jaw dropping costumes from across the UK.

Announcing this year’s plans, Carnival Founder and Chairperson Arthur France said, “For almost 50 years, Leeds Carnival has shared our recipe for a great day out with the perfect blend of stunning costumes, mesmerising music, delicious food and a great atmosphere. Our planning for 2015 started the day after last year’s event to make sure that we continue to thrill audiences and to contribute to the vibrant visitor offer in Leeds and Yorkshire.”
A Leeds City Council survey carried out at last year’s Carnival parade concluded that despite bad weather, spectators at the event brought around £2.7 million to the local economy. Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Digital and Creative Technology, Culture and Skills, added; “As Leeds builds a growing profile and reputation ahead of a bid for European Capital of Culture 2023, the Carnival continues to be one of the highlights of the city’s cultural landscape. Each year it takes over the streets with a blast of colour and enthusiasm which is unmatched by any other event. As a Council we’re proud to be involved with Carnival which is a great demonstration of our partnership with communities and a stunning showcase of our city”.

Mr. France commented, “As with all public spending, funding for the arts is under increasing pressure. With this in mind we are delighted to receive support from our long standing partners Leeds City Council and from Arts Council England Lottery funding which will help us to ensure that we bring Carnival arts to wider audiences and to fly the flag for our city”.

Arts Council England support means that the centre piece annual Leeds Carnival King and Queen Show, which brings breath-taking large scale costumes from across the UK to compete for the sought-after Carnival King and Queen titles – makes a return to the West Yorkshire Playhouse for the second year in a row. The biggest of its kind in the UK, this year’s show follows 2014’s  sell out debut appearance at the nationally renowned theatre and is a feature of an ongoing partnership between the two organisations.

West Yorkshire Playhouse Artistic Director James Brining commented, “We were thrilled to host the Carnival King and Queen show at West Yorkshire Playhouse last year. This spectacular event was a huge success and provided a fantastic start to our partnership with Leeds West Indian Carnival. We’re looking forward to this year’s show and to more exciting projects in the future as part of our relationship joining carnival and the arts and celebrating the culture, inspiration and imagination this iconic event brings to Leeds.”

The funding will also help Carnival organisers take part in other UK events and to recruit young people to its Design & Deliver scheme, offering hands on experience in practical Carnival skills.

Mr. France said, “The generation of Caribbeans like myself who brought new culture and experiences to the UK in the 50’s and 60’s is sadly, a dwindling population. We must do what we can to protect and preserve a legacy of Caribbean Carnival arts in Leeds by encouraging young people to get involved in all aspects of Carnival. Design & Deliver will boost those efforts by offering amazing opportunities to shadow experts in costume design and event management as well as placements with our partners at BBC Radio Leeds and West Yorkshire Playhouse.”

Mr. France added, “Carnival 2015 is a rehearsal for our 50th anniversary celebrations in 2017 and we look forward to sharing some extraordinary plans in the very near future.”

More details of Leeds West Indian Carnival 2015 events are available at www.leedscarnival.co.uk on 0113 3070001 and Twitter @CarnivalLeeds using #CarnivalHappy .