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Revellers packed the streets for Notting Hill Carnival

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-26 10:53

LONDON -- More than a million revellers packed the streets of west London over the weekend as masquerade floats entertained party-goers at the Notting Hill Carnival, Europe's biggest street festival.

A participant in costume dances as revellers parade through the streets during the Notting Hill Carnival in London, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008. [Agencies]

Nearly 300 people were arrested for a variety of offences in connection with the two-day festival on Sunday and Monday, many for drug and alcohol-related crimes, while more than 150 others were detained for the duration of the event.

The vast majority of the festival, however, went off peacefully, massive crowds danced and clapped in the streets to Caribbean music and steel drums, while colourful masquerade floats moved through Notting Hill, with several stalls selling Caribbean food a short walk away.

This year's carnival was themed "Welcoming the World", while the floats had themes including "Back From Space", "Tutti Frutti Sweeties" and "Creatures Of The Earth".

"I have watched the Notting Hill Carnival go from strength to strength each year to become an internationally acclaimed event," the capital's Mayor Boris Johnson said.

"Nothing beats the sounds of the steel pans, the aroma of delicious Caribbean food and the dazzling colours of the costume parade."

Michael Williams, marketing director for London Notting Hill Carnival Ltd said that more than one million people attended the festival, though London's Metropolitan Police estimated that a total of 850,000 revellers visited the street carnival over the two days.

"The carnival is the perfect London spectacle to captivate the world with its dazzling array of costumes and music," Williams said.

"This year's event was enjoyed by more than a million people as the sights and sounds of the Caribbean and other cultures came alive on the streets."

Kishor Warasani, a 24-year-old university student living in east London described the carnival as "absolutely amazing".

"I love the music and the dancing and I'm definitely going to come again next year," he said. "The outfits are gorgeous."

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