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St Paul’s Carnival announces scaled-back 2025 programme
St Paul’s Carnival is returning to its roots this year with a scaled-back event.
In 2023 organisers announced St Paul’s Carnival would no longer be an annual event, instead taking place every two years.
Earlier this year it was also confirmed that the 2025 Carnival would be scaled down due to financial constraints.
is needed now More than ever
Despite these setbacks, the plan is for St Paul’s Carnival 2025 to still be a triumphant celebration.
In 2023 organisers announced St Paul’s Carnival would no longer be an annual event – photo: Hubble
This year’s Carnival theme is ‘Roots of Resistance’, marking the 60th anniversary of the 1965 Race Relations Act.
The 1965 Race Relations Act, which banned racial discrimination in public places, was the first piece of anti-discrimination legislation in the UK.
Later, the 1968 Race Relations Act banned racial discrimination in employment and housing.
The 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott is widely accepted to have played in role in getting the then Labour government to pass the Race Relations Act of 1965.
Many involved in organising the Boycott also co-founded St Paul’s Carnival in 1968, including Roy Hackett, Paul Stephenson and Barbara Dettering.
On Carnival Day, festivalgoers will be able to enjoy day parties at Lakota and Lost Horizon – photo: St Paul’s Carnival
The Roots of Resistance celebration will take place through a specially curated programme called ‘Back A Yard’.
‘Back A Yard’ is a common Jamaican phrase used to refer to “back home”.
‘Back A Yard’ will comprise of seven events, including an afterparty, Carnival’s traditional elders’ brunch and a ‘Windrush human library’ event at Circomedia.
At the Windrush human library, attendees will learn Windrush generation stories and listen to reflections on carnival’s origins and continuing evolution.
Meanwhile Carnival Day, on July 5, will see a day of family-friendly activities, and great food, hosted at the Malcolm X Community Centre.
At the same time, festivalgoers will be able to enjoy one of two day parties – there will be one at Lost Horizon and another at Lakota.
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Reflecting on this year’s programme, LaToyah McAllister-Jones, the executive director of St Paul’s Carnival said: “We’re excited to bring Back A Yard to Bristol, celebrating our roots and the journey that led us here.
“This year, we’re highlighting the activism at the heart of the carnival, sharing our community’s legacy with all generations and paving the way for the future.
“Fundraising is crucial to cementing the future of St Pauls Carnival and our 2025 Back A Yard programme will be a key driver of this to help ensure the future of Bristol’s most beloved vibrant celebration of African-Caribbean culture.
“In prior full Carnival years, over 120,000 people have attended and contributed over £9.2 million to the local economy.
“The cost to produce the full, free, street event is over half a million pounds and we rely on support from sponsors and community donations to try and raise this amount to be able to bring Carnival back in all its glory to the streets of St Pauls in the future.”
Organisers hope funds raised during this ‘Back A Yard’ series of events will help them put on a full-scale St Paul’s Carnival in future.
For tickets to this year’s events, visit www.stpaulscarnival.net/backayard2025
To donate to St Paul’s Carnival, visit www.stpaulscarnival.net/donate
Main photo: St Paul’s Carnival
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