CALO: Caribbean Festival of Carnival Arts

The Caribbean meets London at the UK’s premier of CALO, the UK’s first Caribbean Festival of Carnival Arts, Music & Cuisine which celebrates Caribbean culture and enables visitors to experience the many forms of carnival under one roof… not to mention reggae artists Maxi Priest, and Capleton!

A collaboration between the CALO Festival Organisers, Notting Hill Mas Band Association, PosionUK Events, carnival Village and World Foods Ltd, the family event features the art of carnival costume, live music and dance performances, as well as interactive activities, a food market showcasing exotic Caribbean cuisine and free food sampling.

Over 25 music artists and bands hailing from both the UK and the Caribbean, including: Machel Montano, Capleton, Mr Vegas, Lil Rick, Jah Roots, Gappy Ranks, Roy Cape All-stars and Cuban Latin artists Manolin El Medico, will entertain audiences over the three days with sounds of Soca, Calypso, Reggae, Salsa, Merengue and R&B.

A whole host of additional family entertainment and activities include; steel pan and carnival costume workshops, a children’s Caribbean adventure club, Zumba Dance and Soca Aerobics.

The extravaganza, headlined by pioneer TV chef Rustee Lee (Britain’s first West Indian female television chefs) will see top Caribbean chefs go head to head in the ‘Battle of the Chefs’ contest.

An amalgamation of two major and popular annual events, promoting carnival arts CALO will involve performances by some of the UK’s top costume designers and carnival artists as well as a dazzling, pre-Notting Hill Carnival costume displays.

The CALO Festival, “an experience of a life time,” as said by Angela Duncan-Thompson, Chairperson of the Notting Hill Mas Band Association (NHMBA), takes place from 19-21st August at Alexandra Palace, North London.

Adm: £25 - £40, Weekend pass £60, concs 50% off and free admission for children under 12 on Sunday 21st August.
Info: www.calofestival.co.uk or 0207 193 5859

By Folashade Bello