In the heart of the Thames Valley, every last May Bank Holiday (this year May 31) Reading comes alive with steel, mas, pan and kaiso. Whereas Notting Hill has a cosmopolitan flavour, Reading is rootsy- local UK artists like SW Storm, Scrappy and Chardonai regularly *mash up* needing no imported accompaniments. Last year's Carnival featured a blazing hot sun and riotous creative costumes that made you feel that you were celebrating somewhere else island-style. The Carnival is community minded in nature which makes it very kid-friendly- an ideal family outing. The Carnival weaves its way through the streets of West Reading and ends at Prospect Park. We have been advised that this year that there will be no sound system playing in the park because of its proximity to a residential homes (wha de ass is that, give dem people music to waylay nuh?).
(Pic from BBC Berkshire. All their rights are reserved).
Anyway this is a great alternative to an expensive citybreak and with at least two Carnival bands from London already making the trip- you have no excuse!
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