If you have stayed with us before you’d know that Snooze is situated in the Kemptown district of Brighton. We love this part of town right near the seafront & it’s only about 10 minutes walk to the Pier and to the start of the Lanes/North Lain area. It’s relaxed & chilled out but has a nice little underlying creative feel about the place, a really nice community and some cool independent bars, cafes, restaurants and shops. However, this Saturday June 1st, the whole area will be transformed into one huge vibrant colourful street party. We are delighted that The Kemptown Carnival 2019 makes a spectacular return with the backing and partnership of Brighton Palace Pier and funding from Arts Council England.

The much-loved community arts carnival are thrilled to have had their 2019 event license approved by Brighton and Hove City Council Licensing, Sussex Police and the council Events team. The new Kemptown Carnival Community Interest Company, run by local residents Clare and Adrian Grant in Kemptown Village has been working closely with other local residents, community stakeholders and local businesses to bring the event back to Kemptown Village after a three-year break.

Mat Cook who has been the Carnival creative director since 2010 added; “The Kemptown Carnival continues to be run by the community for the community and ultimately the event only takes place with the express wishes and consent of the residents, community stakeholders, local businesses and people of Kemptown Village.  The carnival team is working very hard to see the event return on a yearly basis and for it to remain Brighton’s largest free community carnival celebrating our talented and diverse city. Myself and all involved would like to thank Kemptown Village residents, churches, community groups and arts organisations for their continued support for the event.”

The Kemptown Carnival was created in the mid-90s, originally a community collaboration between St George’s Church and Sussex House that paid homage to the Great Kemptown Pram Race, a fancy dress pub crawl across Kemptown that ran from the mid-70s until 1989. The Kemptown Carnival has grown from a small village fete event, into Brighton’s own ‘Notting Hill by the Sea’, celebrating the summer with the theme of flowers and becoming one of city’s most cherished community street festivals.

Set in heart of Kemptown Village, along St George’s Road and its surrounding streets, the Carnival is a wonderful opportunity for many of the local businesses and community groups to showcase their goods and talents. The Carnival has worked with a host of community groups and education services including the Open Spaces Dance Troupe, Access to Music, The Academy of Creative Training, Street Funk, Northbrooke College, T21 Dance, The Nautical Training Corps, the Max Miller Appreciation Society, the Rainbow Chorus, Middle Street Choir, Amazonias Capoeira, We Bop women’s choir, The Brighton School of Samba and Sussex University Fencing club…to name but a few.

Over the years the Carnival has been privileged to play host to many of the best of Brighton’s artists and musicians, a great deal of which have dedicated their time and talents to helping raise the much needed funds to make the Carnival happen.

With support from local residents and volunteers, local traders and churches, community groups, Brighton and Hove City Council, and CooktheRabbit Events the Kemp Town Carnival has become a wonderful, multi generational celebration of summer and creativity in Brighton.

This years carnival will have plenty to offer, including a diverse live music program across nine stages, a host of community performances, a vibrant street market, street theatre, children’s entertainment, fairground rides and a community parade to launch the day. Along with many of Brighton’s samba community bands and other processional performance groups, the general public are this year invited to join the community parade which takes place on the morning of the Carnival.

The Kemptown Carnival 2019 takes place Saturday 1st June, from 10am to 6pm. The morning kicks off with the Carnival Community Parade leaving from St Mary’s Church at 10am, winding it’s way down Bristol Road and St George’s Road before finales at various stages to start the music! http://kemptowncarnival.com/news/kemptown-carnival-2019-full-line-up-announced/

Then the Carnival fun continues at the official Kemptown Carnival After Party on the Brighton Palace Pier! 7pm – 11.30pm, FREE ENTRY! It’s a special night of soul, funk and disco, Afro Latin and tropical beats with Brighton LEGEND Russ Dewbury, DJ Eggs Legs and special guests! http://kemptowncarnival.com/news/kemptown-carnival-2019-after-party-on-the-pier-with-russ-dewbury/