Eco floats will be parading through Oxford city to celebrate Cowley Road Carnival in July – by “taking the party to the people”.
Each float will tour the streets of the city, taking in homes and street parties along the way. Starting and finishing in the East Oxford, The Oxford Business Park, the Mini Plant, Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill, Florence Park and South Park/Oxford Brookes University will all be en route.
“After the year we’ve all faced, the opportunity to celebrate our communities is more important than ever”
Plans to celebrate Mother Earth are in full swing for the event which will be live-streamed.
Sean Duvall Charity Director of Cowley Road Works (CRW), which organises Oxford’s iconic Cowley Road Carnival said: “We are incredibly excited about our plans for Carnival @ Home ’21. Our aim is to reach as many people as possible with the most brilliant art, music and performance. After the year we have all faced, the opportunity to celebrate our communities is more important than ever and we cannot wait to bring the celebrations to you on 4th July 2021.’
“This year’s Carnival is all about celebrating with your family and friends at home and in your neighbourhood,” Pax Nindi, Consultant Creative Director said.
“With all the uncertainties surrounding the pandemic and organising large events, we have not been able to plan for a typical Carnival Day with up to 50,000 people crowded together on the street.
“Keeping members of the public safe is of paramount importance and so we will bring the party to the people – rather than people to the party with our innovative celebration of our theme Mother Earth.”
A hard decision to make then? “We felt that, even with the Government’s roadmap to the end of lockdown, things are still not 100% certain and to bring so many people all together in one place wouldn’t be possible or responsible,” Pax adds.
The parade of eco floats will be decorated by local artists, schools, and other groups in the community.
Cowley Road Works (CRW), the charity which organises Oxford’s iconic Cowley Road Carnival, has also made contingency plans for an alternative event which can still be delivered and enjoyed “if the current Government roadmap and rules change.”
The vehicles, which will include a new electric Mini and electric buses from the Oxford Bus Company, Oxford Brookes University and the Oxford Sightseeing bus will tour the city with live music streamed throughout the day, so that as many people as possible can get involved in the celebrations.
“We want people of all shapes and sizes, ages, ethnicities and backgrounds to come and take part”
People are being encouraged to decorate their homes in Carnival style – to really get that Carnival vibe going around the city, a competition and prizes for the best!
These celebrations depend on the involvement and participation of the community. Pax has called for everyone who would like to be part of Carnival @ Home ’21 to register their interest.
“This is a call out for Oxford’s artists, musicians, song-makers, poets, performers, DJs, schools, teachers, community groups and individuals from every corner of the city to sign up and join in. We want people of all shapes and sizes, ages, ethnicities and backgrounds to come and take part.”
Follow the link here to register or go to the website www.cowleyroadworks.org where further plans and routes will be made public soon.
Guidelines, decorating ideas, recipes etc will be published on the website www.cowleyroadworks.org soon.
