It's Carnival Time

21st August 2023

The West End Carnival is ready to take over the streets around Plymouth Market on Saturday 26 August with a packed day of FREE family entertainment.

Organised by the Plymouth City Centre Company, this year’s carnival will be bigger and better than ever with an extra stage and more acts, as well as the traditional carnival parade through the streets of the West End, including samba bands, giant puppets, circus performers, dancers, stilt walkers and taiko drummers.

The fun starts in Frankfort Gate with the Parade setting off at 11am, making its way up New George Street and down Cornwall Street back to Frankfort Gate for about mid-day.

The main stage will be on Frankfort Gate with performances from 11am to 4pm, including fire eaters, contortionists and jugglers and music from up-beat acoustic duo Manuka and Samba Kernow.

New this year will be the Heyday events stage, outside Moments Café in New George Street, with live music from mid-day until 4pm to raise money for Jeremiah’s Journey.

Plymouth Market will also be joining in the fun with indoor entertainment, including face and body painting and Princess and Superhero characters.

Look out too for children’s rides, Punch and Judy, carnival trail, circus workshops, street art, arts and crafts and, of course, a huge variety of food and drink stalls with tastes from around the world.

One of the aims of the carnival is to raise the profile of the West End Plymouth’s vibrant business community with many shops and cafes hosting their own activities on the day in and outside their stores. Many will have special carnival day offers.

You will also be able to see the completion of our carnival mural by Mrs Murals, also known as Ellie Johnson. Her mural will remain in place after the event as part of the growing collection of street art brightening up the West End.

Ellie said: “It's a privilege to be part of this fantastic event that brings the community together to enjoy music and the arts."

This year’s event has received £10,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Steve Hughes, chief executive of the Plymouth City Centre Company, said:

“The carnival is always such a great day out. We have come a long way since creating the West End Plymouth brand a few years ago and now have a vibrant, international business community with a growing reputation for its food and drink offer, as well as the market and high street shops.”

Find out more on the West End Carnival webpage.