Carnival day-by-day

There’s a lot more to the Notting Hill Carnival than the grand climax on Bank Holiday Monday. Here’s what’s happening this year:

SATURDAY 16 AUGUST

What: Carnival Splash
Where: Alexandra Palace, Wood Green, N22
When: 11am onwards

London warms up for Carnival with two days of festivities at Alexandra Palace. Saturday sees the unveiling of this year’s colourful Carnival costumes. There will also be free workshops in costume and mask making to help you come up with your own flamboyant design and truly get into the swing of things. A youth costume and concert show will follow the official opening of the festival by London mayor Ken Livingstone.

Tickets for Carnival Splash will be available on the day at Alexandra Palace — priced £2.50 and £5 for Saturday and £5 and £10 for Sunday. A family ticket (two adults and up to three children) for both days can be bought for £30. Tickets are also available on 08700 600 100.

SUNDAY 17 AUGUST

What: Carnival Splash continued
Where: Alexandra Palace, Wood Green, N22
When: 3pm onwards

More colourful warm-up, with a full-blown Carnival preview show featuring costumes, steel bands, calypso sounds — the works, basically. Doors open at 2pm. See above for ticket details.

SATURDAY 23 AUGUST

What: Carnival weekend, Day One
Where: Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park and Powis Square
When: 12pm onwards

The first day of Carnival weekend opens with a children’s event at Powis Square, W11. Junior Calypso Picnic In The Park is being run for the first time this year, and is aimed at children aged 6-16. Running from 12pm to 5.30pm, the event will involve workshops, Calypso storytelling and a performance from the children at the end of the day. Free admission.

Carnival truly gets underway at 7pm with Panorama, the annual event to choose London’s Champions Of Steel. Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, on Kensal Road, W10, is the scene as the capital’s steel bands do battle to be crowned top dogs.

SUNDAY 24 AUGUST

What: Carnival weekend, Day Two — Children’s Day
Where: Athlone Gardens, Portobello North
When: 12pm to 9pm

The second day of Carnival is all about the children. The main event is the Children’s Parade, a smaller version of the main Carnival parade taking in Ladbroke Road, Great Western Road, Chepstow Road and Kensal Road.

The day will also see Athlone Gardens on Portobello Road North turned into a tropical children’s paradise. Tropical Island Rubicon Park will be offering family entertainment, with children able to play in a playground area decorated with palm trees and beach backdrops.

MONDAY 25 AUGUST

What: The big day
Where: All over Notting Hill
When: 12pm to 9pm

The big day itself as Notting Hill turns into a flamboyant party zone. Costumes, sound systems, steel bands, sound systems and hundreds of food stalls will take over the streets as West London turns totally Caribbean.

The main Carnival parade takes in Great Western Road, Westbourne Park Road, Chepstow Road, Westbourne Grove, Kensington Park Road, Arundel Gardens, and Ladbroke Grove, with the procession starting at midday.