BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: Notting Hill Carnival 2008

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21:30 GMT, Monday, 25 August 2008 22:30 UK

In pictures: Notting Hill Carnival 2008

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The Notting Hill Carnival, which has been held every August Bank Holiday since 1966, is the world's second largest street party, after the Rio Carnival in Brazil.

Dancer and police officer at the Notting Hill Carnival

Dancer and police officer at the Notting Hill Carnival

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Some 600,000 people joined in two days of fun, and the atmosphere was one of celebration, despite tight security.

Dancer at the Notting Hill Carnival

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Months of hard work goes into the elaborate costumes to make the Notting Hill Carnival a sea of bright colours.

Dancer at the Notting Hill Carnival

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Lavishly decorated floats snaked their way through the streets to the sound of steel drums. Themes included Back From Space, Creatures Of The Earth and Paradise.

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Norman McKenzie, 42, has been serving jerk chicken at the carnival for the past six years.

A man wearing a Usain Bolt T-shirt

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The success of Jamaica in the Olympics was a source of pride for many carnival revellers, with sprinter Usain Bolt now joining Bob Marley as a Jamaican icon.

Drummers

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Music has always played an integral role at the Notting Hill Carnival, and the sound of drumming mixed with the music coming from giant speakers.

Tanya Scantlebury carrying a Barbados flag

Tanya Scantlebury carrying a Barbados flag

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Like many revellers, Tanya Scantlebury, 28, whose family is from Barbados, was keen to display her roots. The lawyer said she loves the carnival's mix of Caribbean "flamboyance" and London chic.

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Ezio Kroll goes to the carnival every year because he says it's the one time in the year when Londoners relax and talk to strangers.

Francoise Leroy (left), Jean Sebastien Dakpe-Bocognonin, Simon Foutrel, Inorgane Lesne, Matthieu Talouen

Francoise Leroy (left), Jean Sebastien Dakpe-Bocognonin, Simon Foutrel, Inorgane Lesne, Matthieu Talouen

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The theme of this year's event is Welcoming the World. In keeping with this, Francoise Leroy (left) and his friends travelled from Normandy, France, to spend the weekend at the carnival.

Becki Havill (left), April Summers and Beth Summers

Becki Havill (left), April Summers and Beth Summers

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Becki Havill, 15, was soaking up the atmosphere at her first carnival with her friends April and Beth Summers. The trio were looking forward to sampling some jerk chicken.

Women in costumes

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The event was started by the Caribbean immigrants of the area. It served as an act of community defiance following race riots.

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Related to this story:
Crowds enjoy carnival's final day (25 Aug 08 | London )
Revellers join in city carnival (25 Aug 08 | West Yorkshire )
Carnival's 100-tonne clean sweep (25 Aug 08 | London )
Carnival crowds take to streets (27 Aug 07 | London )
Huge crowds enjoy carnival party (26 Aug 07 | London )
Carnival's £100m boost to the UK (25 Aug 07 | London )
Carnival route remains unchanged (23 Jul 07 | London )
500,000 party at London carnival (28 Aug 06 | London )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
BBC Notting Hill Carnival
Notting Hill Carnival 2007
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