Luton Carnival

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Luton Carnival in Luton, Bedfordshire is the largest one-day carnival event in Europe.

Taking place on the late May bank holiday Monday every year and attended by over 150,000 people each year, the procession starts at Wardown Park in Luton before making it way down New Bedford Road, around the Town Centre via St George's Square, and back down New Bedford Road to finish up back in Wardown Park.

[edit] History

The first carnival in Luton was in 1976 on a much smaller scale than today as a modest Victorian street fair as part of the borough councils centenary celebrations. The carnival developed and evolve over the years and in 1998 Luton Carnival acquired international status, receiving the largest single lottery award for carnival development.

In 2000 to mark the beginning of the new millennium Luton celebrated with an expanded three day event with more than 140,000 revellers taking to the streets for the massive international event.

Luton International Carnival is organised by Luton Borough Council Arts Development Unit in partnership with Luton Carnival Arts Development Trust. The Carnival is sponsored by Bedfordshire Newspapers (Luton Herald and Post and The Luton News) and by local radio station 97.6 Chiltern FM.