BBC at St Pauls Carnival 2009

School shows off carnival moves

The 42nd St Pauls Carnival gets under way on Saturday 4 July, 2009 with acts on stage from 11am and the costumes and floats of the procession at 1pm.

As well as watching what's going on there's plenty more to experience.

The large range of world music on offer includes "reggae ambassador" Earl 16, who headlines on the Green Stage.

One of the massive BBC screens will also be based adjacent to the Green Stage - and you'll find the other in Portland Square's Carnival Village.

And the BBC will be broadcasting live from the carnival site.

Tim will be broadcasting live from the carnival

Tim McSweeney will be reporting live into Dr Phil's Saturday Surgery on Radio Bristol, in the build-up to the start of the carnival procession.

Then Tim presents his show - Tim McSweeney's Big Weekend - live from Portland Square between 12-2pm.

Plus there'll be regular reports and highlights throughout the afternoon during John Ford's Saturday Afternoon Show from 2-6pm.

Poetry Corner

Poetry will fill St Pauls Park between 2pm and 6pm, where local poet Lawrence Hoo will be looking after Poetry Corner. Hear local performance poets and try your hand at it during the open-mic spot.

Mandela's Hideaway in St Agnes Park offers a chance for families and children to experience African drumming, have faces painted and bounce on inflatables. It's open from 12-6pm.

The carnival's famous sound systems will be up-and-running until 2am and they're dotted around the carnival site.

Road closures will be in place before, during and after the carnival. Streets in the immediate vicinity of the carnival will be closed to traffic from 5am on Saturday until 8am on Sunday.

Ashley Road and some surrounding streets will be closed to traffic between 12pm and 3pm for the carnival procession.