This year’s Manchester Caribbean Carnival will virtually be set in an ‘online live birthday party’.
Due to safety considerations amid the pandemic, the annual festivities will be held with practically a combination of pre-recorded presentations to celebrate Caribbean culture and heritage.
Virtual occasions will take place on 8 and 9 August, led by Manchester Carnival Together Consortium (MCTC) organisers in collaboration with Manchester City Council.
This year’s occasion will be to honor the legacy of the carnival with performances of such important titles as I-octane, the king of dance runner Stylo G, the queen of the soca Patrice Roberts and many others.
Julie Burke, MCTC Carnival Director, said: “As a new team, we are excited to offer what will be a colorful Caribbean Manchester carnival with a new revitalized style.
“We value the carnival and its heritage and it is unthinkable that we do not have a carnival this year.
“We need other people to attend the carnival safely and see it online because the entertainment we have in the store will be a real carnival beach party, which will take the Manchester Carnival online to the next level.”
The weekend entertainment will also come with a setting for young people, DJ sets, colorful dances, metal band demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, network debates and, most importantly, the island sounds of soca, reggae and calypso.
Akeim Mundell BEM MCTC Creative, Creative Manager, said: “We may not be celebrating the glorious carnival culture at the center of our network this year, yet the MCTC team and I have combined a wonderful demonstration of talent, culture and heritage that doesn’t disappoint.
“There are a lot of cultural and exciting pieces for the entire online carnival weekend that our network will be proud of.”
Luthfur Rahman, an executive member of the Manchester Culture, Skills and Recreation Council, said: “It’s glorious to see so many other tactics that other people can worry about at this year’s carnival, while staying at home.
“It would have been glorious to see the streets covered in all the style and birthday party of the carnival that brings the annual occasion.
“Unfortunately, we knew for some time that this would not be possible. That’s why I’m convinced that this year’s online carnival would probably not leave anyone of preference or feel too disappointed.
“The time and effort of the organizers guarantees that it will be a day for everyone.”
For more information, the Manchester Carnival website, where full programming has not yet been announced.