Thousands of people took to the streets of SE18 celebrating the return of Woolwich Carnival this weekend, as organisers said it was the best in years.
The parade remains the heart of the carnival and was alive with music, dancing and costumes as it made its way from Royal Arsenal to General Gordon Square.
Rosana Muller, co-founder of TARU Arts, the organisation behind the carnival, said: “It is about bringing people together.
“It does not matter where they’re from or what culture they are a part of, we don’t separate.
“We want them to enjoy the day together and celebrate our community together.”
Crowds cheered students from Windrush Charlton, St Mary Magdalene CE and St Margaret’s CE primary schools as they marched the procession together.
TARU Arts worked closely with the schools in the run up to the event, holding drumming, dance and costume making workshops to get the pupils ready for the event.
Regarding the workshops, Muller said: “When the carnival comes around, the kids are not just spectators, they are really performers.”
Beyond the parade, General Gordon Square transformed into a lively family-friendly festival hub.
The stage was a showcase of the borough’s creative talent, with performances from Emerging Arts, BE Dancer, Heart of Steel band and many more.
Stalls offering everything from international street food to community craft groups lined the square, with children making carnival masks and charities there to support anyone in need.
Greenwich Inclusion Project, GrIP, a charity supporting victims of race and faith-based discrimination, has been involved in organising and fundraising for the Carnival since 2016.
Gilles Cabon, a volunteer with GrIP, said that anyone in the area is welcome at Carnival and the mission was to create community across cultures.
TARU Arts celebrated their 20-year anniversary this year and have been running Woolwich Carnival since 2015.
Woolwich Carnival is part of the Royal Greenwich Festivals 2024 programme, and TARU Arts has been working with the Royal Borough of Greenwich Council, as well at the National Lottery and Berkeley homes, in fundraising efforts for the past year to keep the event free for all.
The carnival’s biggest year in 2019 attracted around 8,000 people, but it has suffered with reduced funding and turnout since COVID.
This year, due to the council’s major works across Woolwich town centre, organisers had to change the route of the parade and give up a significant area of space in the Square to the weekly market stalls.
Despite this, organisers with thrilled with this year’s turnout.
While official numbers have yet to be confirmed, Muller estimated around 5,000 people attended the event throughout the day.
A council spokesperson said: “We’re proud to support TARU Arts and Woolwich Carnival through our Royal Greenwich Festivals programme, which brings our communities together to enjoy free, exciting and accessible events across our borough.
“Woolwich Carnival has become an annual celebration of music, culture and togetherness and this year even the sun got the memo!
“For the last 20 years, the team at TARU Arts have been empowering local people of all ages through the arts and we’d like to thank them for all their brilliant work.”
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