St Pauls Carnival will not return in full in 2025

St Pauls Carnival organisers have announced that the event will not be returning in full this year, as had previously been expected.

The Bristol carnival, which celebrates African Caribbean arts and culture, was expected to return for a full-scale celebration this year after moving to a bi-annual model in 2023.

However, organisers have decided to deliver another scaled-down programme of events this year in response to ongoing issues with funding.

"St Pauls Carnival has had to make some difficult decisions," said executive director LaToyah McAllister-Jones.

Ms McAllister-Jones said many other cultural organisations were also feeling financial pressure.

"As a recipient of public-funding, there is an obligation to ensure that we are being responsible and financially prudent," she said.

"We are really excited with our plans for 2025 which will bring carnival arts and culture to the city and continue to celebrate the roots of Caribbean heritage."

Founded in 1968 as St Pauls Festival, the event began as a way of sharing Caribbean culture with friends and neighbours.

At full scale, it welcomed more than 120,000 people, contributing some £9.2m to Bristol and the wider region's economy - supporting local businesses in St Pauls and across the city.

The last full-scale carnival was held in 2023 after a four-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ms McAllister-Jones previously told the BBC that the event sector had "suffered" due to the pandemic.

The 2025 events programme will include the traditional Elder's Brunch on the first Saturday in July.

The brunch celebrates community elders including the original founders of St Pauls Carnival including Dr Barbara Dettering OBE.

The school's programme will also take place, with costume-making, drumming and dance alongside a range of events celebrating music, food and performance which are all key elements to the Caribbean carnival.

Dr Michele Curtis, the new chair of St Pauls Carnival, said organisers were focused on protecting the legacy of Caribbean culture at the carnival.

"For me, it means being careful with our finances and developing our ability to generate income throughout the year. Sustainability is our focus," she said.

"What is equally important is that our communities, both close to home and within the wider city, understand the huge social and economic impact of carnival.

"If we want to protect its legacy, everyone has a role to play, whether volunteering, donating, or sponsorship."

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