Caribbean Carnival of Manchester at Alexandra Park (CANCELLED)

Creative Tourist

Visit now

Caribbean Carnival of Manchester (CANCELLED)

Alexandra Park, Manchester
8-9 August 2020

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

Caribbean Carnival of Manchester
Book now

Expect revelry of legendary proportions as the Caribbean Carnival of Manchester returns to the stunning setting of Alexandra Park.

For early birds, the morning J’ouvert parade (marking struggles suffered on the road to independence) normally starts warming up from 8am on Saturday morning with two trailers of DJs and Soca bands and food vendors serving souse, dumplings, salt fish and rice. This parade is adjacent to the park and is set to wake the neighbourhood up in style.

Last year, the main Carnival parade left Alexandra Park on Saturday at 1pm, returning at 3.30 featuring spectacular costume, dance, music and performance.

Each day in the park, indulge in Caribbean food and dance to Mas bands, Dancehall, Soca and leading DJs.  The line-up is yet to be revealed for 2020, but expect three stages of live music, top DJs, local talent, the much-loved Soul Tent and African Corner.

Now a top highlight in the city’s annual calendar, the Caribbean Carnival that we now know and love was born out of an impromptu carnival event on the streets by Caribbean residents in 1972, which was attended by around 100 people.

This happy and friendly carnival is intergenerational, of the community yet world class, and wows the crowd with even more jaw-dropping costumes and performance each year.

Where to go near Caribbean Carnival of Manchester at Alexandra Park (CANCELLED)

Manchester
Music venue
The Carlton Club

The Carlton Club is a social club with a fully licensed bar, snooker tables and dance floor in the South Manchester suburb of Whalley Range.

British Muslim Heritage Centre
Manchester
Event venue
British Muslim Heritage Centre

The British Muslim Heritage Centre, or BMHC as it’s also know, was formerly the GMB National College. This 18th century Grade II listed building is located in the heart of Manchester and situated within 8 acres of attractive greenery.

The Old Abbey Taphouse
Manchester
Restaurant
The Abbey

Now Wave – the team behind YES and some of the best independent gig programming in the city – have taken over The Abbey.

Hulme
Hulme Playhouse Theatre

The Playhouse Theatre, originally known as the Hulme Hippodrome opened its doors on 6 October 1902. In 2018, the historic venue was relaunched as a community arts centre by NIAMOS – a collective of artists, musicians and local residents.

Manchester
Event venue
Niamos Centre, Manchester

Niamos is a co-operatively run exhibition, arts, and performance space with a micro bakery, music studio’s, a kitchen and a holistic well-being space in the midst of transformation.

The Giving Tree
Manchester
Restaurant
The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree is a cafe and community hub based in Rusholme, a short walk from the city centre.

Manchester
Restaurant
MyLahore

Modern cafe and restaurant on Manchester’s Curry Mile. encouraging

The Abbey
Manchester
Restaurant
The Abbey

Historic Hulme pub with a very good live gig space, brought to you by the very capable team behind YES, Gorilla, Now Wave and Manchester Psych Fest.

What's on: Festivals

–
MusicChapel Street
FaT OuT 26

FaT OuT is back with one long, dark night of loud music and underground performance split between two legendary venues: The White Hotel and The DBA.

From £ 10
Compass Festival 2026
–
FestivalsLeeds
Compass Festival 2026

With interactive encounters and live performance, Compass Festival is set to animate the city of Leeds once again this November.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Nwando Ebizie and Sidiki Dembélé wear jewel-toned clothes against a midnight blue backdrop.
Music

Returning legends, their noisy heirs and centuries-old music made new – all in our latest guide update.

Food and Drink in the North

It's autumn and time to get scheduling those hearty meals. Here's the October guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.

Exhibitions

It’s a good season for contemporary art fans in Manchester, with many of our favourite small galleries launching something big.

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre

Shakespearean tragedy, indie musical theatre, live art and beautifully strange dance-theatre – four standout picks for autumn.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.