Leeds West Indian Carnival 2023

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

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Leeds West Indian Carnival 2023

28 August 2023

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

via Leeds Inspired
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Carnival is one of the most colourful, delicious and dance fuelled events in Leeds’ cultural calendar. This yearly celebration of heritage, culture and community is over 50 years old and has gone through many evolutions. Since the first Leeds Carnival in 1967, it has overcome establishment setbacks, doubt from within the community and survived political and economic uncertainty to bring one of the brightest and loudest celebrations in the city back every year.

While you’re in Potternewton Park dancing to the sound systems blasting soca music, enjoying the incredible jerk chicken and fully surrendering yourself to the general mood of partying, it’s vitally important to remember where this event comes from. Carnivals are a centuries old  tradition that spans across caribbean and african culture. They are an expression of art, music, political views and culture, but the genesis of carnival is steeped in the liberation and emancipation of a people who knew the cruelty of slavery. When asked about the context behind Leeds carnival, founding member and chairperson Arthur France quoted his hero Malcolm X, “If you don’t know, I’ll tell you. If you’ve forgotten, I’ll remind you”.

Over the weekend there is an expertly curated line up of music as well as the hotly anticipated parade. This takes place during the day and is the fundamental image that comes to mind when thinking of what carnival is. Costumes which people have worked on all year round are dance, wheel and bounce along the street while trucks carry steel pan bands and DJs that keep the party going. Each troop has a theme and tells a story through costume and dance. Some take inspiration from nature, some from spirituality and some from the countries that people have moved from to Leeds.

Carnival is a large scale event with a community focused heart. You can find pop up events throughout the city over the summer, building up to the big events in that last weekend of the summer. It welcomes everyone to share in beautiful traditions and just have a good time.

Where to go near Leeds West Indian Carnival 2023

Hern Food
Leeds
Restaurant
Hern

This produce-driven bistro in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, prides itself on cooking with the only finest ingredients and his headed up by Cordon Bleu-trained chef Rab Adams.

Indie Makers
Leeds
Shop
Indie Makers

Indie Makers, located in Leads’ corn exchange, trades in art and gifts from independent makers across the UK.

Plant Point
Leeds
Shop
Plant Point

Plant Point is designed to help you bring the jungle into your urban or suburban space. The home of beautiful plants in Leeds.

Leeds
Restaurant
Eat Your Greens

Eat Your Greens is a vibrant, organic restaurant bringing a hint of European flair to the city’s plant-based dining scene.

Sela opened in 2004 with an idea to provide quality imported beers from around the world, fun cocktails to compliment the beer selections and a stage for the region’s finest and most talented musicians to play on.Over ten years later, we’re still all about the beer, cocktails, live music and pizza!We carry over a selection of over thirty different beers spanning the globe from Pickering with The Great Yorkshire Brewery’s Yorkshire Blackout, to New York with a selection from Brooklyn Brewery, and Belgium with longtime Sela favourite, Vedett.Our cocktails change regularly too. Our best-sellers are joined by fun, new offerings and our pizza menu is regarded as one of the best the city of Leeds has to offer.As for the live music, Sela has had not only the great and the good from the region. Local funksters, The New Mastersounds are regular visitors and we stage the amazing Mojah Reggae Band for their weekly Wednesday residency.  Our other long running programming incl
Leeds
Restaurant
Sela Bar & Pizzeria

Sela Bar is a cosy Leeds basement spot with live music, great drinks, and a cool, laid-back, atmospheric vibe.

Leeds Beckett SU
Leeds
Restaurant
Leeds Beckett Student Union

Leeds Beckett Student Union hosts big-name artists and supports students through events, live music, and a vibrant campus venue.

Located on Cardigan Fields Leisure Park, Vue Leeds Kirkstall is a nine screen cinema with almost 2000 seats. There's ample parking and the cinema is surrounded by various restaurants and entertainment facilities, making for a great evening out!

Watch the latest film releases and enjoy the industry-leading Sony 4K Digital screens, boasting spectacular picture quality, along with enhanced audio quality courtesy of Dolby 'Profound Sound'. Stepped SuperVue seating means you will never miss a second of the action while VIP seating guarantees you an extra touch of luxury whenever you want to upgrade.

Three of the nine screens showcase the newest 3D releases while Vue Classical brings the latest stage sensations to the big screen, and parents can save as they go with Family Tickets and Kids AM screenings offering great value for money.
Leeds
Cinema
Vue Cinema – Leeds Kirkstall Road

Located on Cardigan Fields Leisure Park, Vue Leeds Kirkstall is a nine screen cinema with almost 2000 seats. There’s ample parking and the cinema is surrounded by various restaurants and

Restaurant 2
Leeds
Café or Coffee Shop
Empire Café

Empire Café is located in Leeds’ ‘home of day dining’- Fish street!

Restaurant
Leeds
Restaurant
Phranakhon

Phranakhon Thai Tapas is a revolutionised Thai dining restaurant with a combination of European indulgence and authentic Thai tastes.

Restaurant
Leeds
Restaurant
Wen’s

Wen’s is a family owned Chinese restaurant specialising in authentic, home cooked cuisine.

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