COWLEY ROAD STAGES BEST CARNIVAL EVER

Organisers have hailed Carnival 2016 as even better than ever as the community turned out in tens of thousands to enjoy a packed programme of activities and events with the most colourful and biggest procession in the history of the event.

Photo by Jim Shannon

Photo by Jim Shannon

Over 800 people from 37 groups were in the parade which was themed ‘All the World's a Stage', taken from Shakespeare's ‘Love's Labours Lost' and many of the groups picked a Shakespeare play for their costumes and structures in the procession.

St Barnabas School

St Barnabas School from Jericho were at the Carnival for the first time, and took their theme from ‘the Tempest'. They made a boat from recycled carrier bags. Karen Donaghey, teacher at the school commented: "We are an eco-school and are doing ‘The Tempest' because we thought that we would make seaweed out of carrier bags to highlight the fact that thousands of sea creatures are killed by plastic every year. "

St Andrews School in Headington interpreted the theme differently by depicting areas of the world such as deserts, the arctic, and the rainforest. Jason Clarke, Deputy Head at the school said: "We are showing the world as a stage and all the people inside from all walks of life."

The Lord Mayor on the elephant at the head of the procession, photo by Jim Robinson

The Lord MayorCouncillor Mohammed Altaf-Khanwas at the head of the procession resplendent atop an amazingly decorated mechanical elephant. Before taking his place he said: "I think it is a fantastic event which brings all the community together. It is one of the biggest events of the year with 45,000 people from across the city and the county to enjoy."

Oxford Brookes University also joined the procession, this year in celebration of 125 years of nurse education in Oxford, following on from the 150^thanniversary last year. Andrea Siret,Head of Alumni and Community Engagement,was at the University's area in Manzil Way where carnival-goers could participate in activities and find out more about their health. She was very pleased with the day, she said: "It has gone really well with an amazing atmosphere. It has been fantastic to have the opportunity to be involved in such a fantastic event and to support and connect with our neighbours. It has gone really well."

Leader of Oxford City Council, Bob Price said: "it gets bigger and better every year. The City Council is delighted to give the Carnival core funding support for three years. We see this is becoming the biggest summer festival for years to come. It is so full of colour and enjoyment, food and culture that we can showcase to the world."

Food is certainly an important part of the day for many Carnival-goers, and the Cowley Road restaurants and stalls were out in force to tantalise the tastebuds with street food from all over the globe including from Tibet, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, and the Caribbean.

Dr Benaka Karanth photo by Jim Robinson

The many ‘firsts' for this year's Carnival also reflected the theme including the popular World Stage at the Asian Cultural Centre, the ‘All the Words Stage' dedicated to the spoken word outside the UPP cinema in Jeune Street, and Shakespeare theatrical performance and ballet in the churchyard at St Mary & St John's Church.

It was also a first for Johannah Aynsley - her first Carnival as the event's new Executive Director and her first visit to the Carnival. She said: "The weather came out for Carnival and the people followed. There was a great festival atmosphere, full of goodwill, you could tell people were out to enjoy themselves.

"The new stages and enhanced areas helped to ease previous years' crowding and pinch points and the police were delighted with the ambience and feel of the crowds.

. "The procession was led by a fantastic metal elephant dressed in Asian pyjamas with the Lord Mayor on top, and the schools and cultural groups from around Oxford helped to make this Carnival's procession the longest yet.

"A great success for my first Carnival with lots of ideas and improvements for next year. Thanks to the public of Oxfordshire for coming down and enjoying our party. It was special to see so many different colours, creeds, ages, languages, families and friends all celebrating life together. See you next year!"

The stage at Manzil Gardens hosted a full programme of dance. Claire Thompson organiser of Dancin' Oxford organised the line-up, she said: "The Dancin' Oxford Dance Stage is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the huge variety and vibrancy of dance in Oxford. Today featured over 25 different dance groups of all ages and together they presented a truly wonderful afternoon of dance."

Restore, the mental health charity on Manzil Way hosted another entertainment area serving teas and refreshments along with music in the Restore Secret Garden from What the Fox Music.Olivier Guillot, Head of Recovery commented: "It has been very good and successful having the music in the garden. Carnival gives our members the opportunity to be involved and more people start to know us and what we do."

MarkLygo,County Councillor for Marston & Northway said: "I am very happy, again not only to be involved but also to enjoy the atmosphere of the Cowley Road Carnival which goes from strength to strength every year. It is such a diverse event and brings all the communities together"

Visiting the Carnival for the first time, Oxfordshire's High Sheriff, Sarah Taylor said: This is colourful Oxford at its best."

Sylvia Hall from the Iffley Road was a volunteer for the first time. She thoroughly enjoyed the experience and said: "It has been just fab. It's a really great way of getting involved and seeing carnival from the inside. I have really enjoyed it.

Thames Valley Police were pleased to see the event run smoothly, Neil Bouse, East Oxford Neighbourhood Acting Sergeant said: "We are happy with the way the event was run and managed. It was good to see people from a variety of backgrounds together enjoying themselves. Thank you to the volunteers who gave up their time into making the event successful."

Carnival-goers were asked to contribute £1 towards their afternoon which now costs £150,000 to organise. Johannah Aynsley said:"We raised £8,000 in public donations, the aim was to collect £1 at entry from all carnival-goers and we were hoping to raise over £30,000. The entry points didn't happen this year due to a last minute glitch but the volunteers did an amazing job of asking the public to ‘give a £1 to keep carnival around'. Next year we will ask everyone to give a £1 and help raise funds to cover at least a fifth of the budget."

The event receives core funding of £30,000 a year from Oxford City Council and chief sponsors include Oxford Brookes University, the Bullingdon bar, and MINI Plant Oxford.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The Cowley Road Carnival was on 10 July 2016. For more detailed information and listings of what is on where, photographs and to arrange interviews, please contact Sarah Airey at sarah.airey@thebuzzworks.co.uk telephone 07855 086447.

Cowley Road Carnival is organised by Cowley Road Works, a registered charity.

Cowley Road Carnival receives core funding from Oxford City Council. Other organisations who have already agreed to support Carnival 2016 include: The Arts Council, Oxford Brookes University, the Patsy Wood Trust, Bybox, Stagecoach, Chamberlain Evans, Penny & Sinclair, Sovereign, Bounce, Daily Info, MINI Plant Oxford and The Co-Op.