A huge five-day series of free carnival arts workshops kicks off on Monday 10 July in the build up to Bath Carnival 2017.
For the first time ever Bath Carnival will be transforming the market square at Green Park Station into a Carnival hub where members of the public can drop in at any time between 2pm and 8:30pm to learn costume design, drumming and dance.
Bath Carnival organizer, Stuart Matson, said, “We’re so excited to be able to offer people the chance to get more involved in the carnival preparations this year. It’s really important to us that people get the chance to work alongside professional costume designers and make something special to wear at the final event. Our theme is Colourful Creatures so we want everyone to get into the carnival spirit and design their own imaginary creature.”
As well as designing your own costume, there’s the opportunity to register to wear one of Bath Carnival’s large back pack costumes in the procession, many of which cost up to £3000.
In addition to costume design, there will be live entertainment each evening as well as free drumming dance workshops from 6-8:30pm.
Anyone who drops into the carnival hub will have the chance to be involved in the carnival procession at Bath Carnival 2017 which takes place on Saturday 15 July.
This year the procession starts from Great Pulteney Street at 3pm and follows a route around the city centre which includes parading past the Guildhall, down Milsom Street and a finale at Laura Place. The Bath Recreation Ground will be open to the public from 11am and families are invited to bring a picnic and enjoy the Carnival atmosphere.
As well as the procession the event sees the return of the large party in the park at Sydney Gardens which features a new main stage with live music throughout the day including eight-piece festival favourites Smerins Anti-Social club.
This year the festival style event will also include a range of independent food and drink traders, walkabout acts, a free dance workshop area, a chill-out zone and a colourful children’s play area co-organised by Super Pirates. The party in the park is from 10:00am – 10:00pm
This year’s official after party is at Moles nightclub, which is being transformed with Carnival inspired décor by Tropical Tea Party. The stelar lineup of live acts and DJs includes a special set by Jamma de Samba, collaborationsbetween Flamenco Thief and DJ Hiphoppapotamus and a headline set from Greece’s DJ Inko.