Carnaval del Pueblo 2009

This annual community event promises a colourful, striking, and powerful costumed float procession plus live performances from some of Latin America's most prominent artists. This year Carnaval del Pueblo will celebrate its 11th edition on Sunday 2nd August in Burgess Park.

The line-up for this year's event will include, amongst others, Venezuelan Luis Felipe Gonzalez and Shakirita will be on the main stage. Leonardo, top sertaneja (country Brazilian music) singer will celebrate the first Brazilian Day as part of the event. Carla Visi representing Axe (Brazilian Popular Music), Marco Andre (Carimbo' Fusion), Samuel Rodriguez (World Music) and other artists, plus many DJs will keep the festival alive with music throughout. Carnaval del Pueblo will present Los Chinches, Sur 4, Bahareque, Mariachi Mexteca, La Chica Latina y Shakirita and other some surprises.

Starting at noon, the Float Parade, with traditionally dressed dancers and musicians representing each of the 19 different Latin American countries, makes its way from from Elephant and Castle to Burgess Park, via Walworth Road, Camberwell Road and Albany Road. At the park, live acts will entertain carnival-goers from 10am to 10pm at the Main Stage, and the Andean and Brazilian areas. There will also be a salsa dance floor for people to enjoy their ringing moves!

There will also be 200 stall marquees where stall holders trade in Latin American, Caribbean and Western food and drinks, and Arts and Crafts from the region. Plus traditional food, handcrafts and a kids' zone which will provide a range of fun activities for families, including workshops, face painting, bouncy castles and fun fair.

The concerts take place from 3 to 9 pm. Music is expected to include Salsa bands, traditional folk (e.g. pipe music of the Andes), Samba and Capoeira dance, replicating the sensuous sights, sounds and atmoshere of the exotic Southern hemphishere.

There will be a wide range of South American food and crafts to explore and sample. This festival seems to be increasing in popularity on an annual basis.

Carnaval del Pueblo supported by Heritage Fund Lottery Project, has been running workshops about oral Latin American history and different Latin American culture manifestation since last December. The result of these workshops will be on show at Carnaval del Pueblo and into 10 months exhibition about history of the Latin carnival since 1960's until present time at Cuming Museum. The exhibition will be running from October 2009.

Transport Links:
Tube & train station for Burgess Park: Elephant & Castle (Northern Line and Bakerloo Line).
Buses to Burgess Park: 36, 12, 171, 68, 68a, 25, 175, 63, 12, 45, 33, 100, 172.

For more information, see the Carnaval del Pueblo website.

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