Northampton’s celebration of carnival culture returned from its Covid break in reduced form – less dancers and a shorter route – but the real victory is that it has happened at all.
The event has always relied on different parts of the community to come together for the benefit of the community, a true coalition of the willing, and the Covid interruption was a real challenge for something that had been growing organically over the years.
With a fairground and stalls based on the Racecourse and a parade that takes in Abington, Wellingborough Road and the town centre it is a great event as it is. However in a town the size of Northampton it’s an event bursting with untapped potential.
Alongside Northampton Music Festival and Northampton Beer Festival it feels like one of the pillars of a summer season of events could champion the town and teach it about itself. It’s something that pretty much happens anyway. We could call it Social Cohesion Fest or perhaps something catchier.
NQ’s cinematic mentor and maverick contributor Karin Johnstone had her camera with her as the parade went past and took the pictures that appear on this page.
