Hundreds of children descended on Portsmouth’s Guildhall Square on Wednesday 5 July to take part in a Latin American carnival parade.
Organised by Portsmouth Music Hub, the event brought together artists, dancers and musicians to celebrate cultural diversity and creativity in the city. Pupils from seven schools, as well as children educated at home, came dressed in carnival costumes with masks, flags, drums, streamers and whistles.
The children were entertained by the Pompey Pluckers ukulele band, a pianist and some maypole dancers before giving a performance of The Carnival Song, written especially for the event by one of the music hub’s composers.
Parents and passers-by were treated to singing, African drumming and Japanese Taiko drumming as the carnival procession took the children around Guildhall Square and into Victoria Park. The children then paraded around the park and back into Guildhall Square for a surprise massed dance led by Carnival Queen, Becki Short, from the music hub.
Heidi Smith, aged 7, from Cottage Grove Primary School, said:
‘It was great fun and I really loved the carnival. We drummed all round the park and all the way back to school!’
Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub, said:
‘It was a fantastic carnival with so many children celebrating cultural diversity in our city. The enthusiastic smiles, colourful costumes and fantastic singing and dancing made this an event to be remembered.’
Participating schools were:
- Ark Dickens Primary Academy
- Cottage Grove Primary School
- Medina Primary School
- Meredith Infant School
- Newbridge Junior School
- St John’s Catholic Cathedral Primary School
- Milton Park Primary School
Header photo: Meredith Infant School sea dancers
