ORGANISERS OF Notting Hill Carnival have reassured the public that there are no plans to cancel Europe’s biggest street party.
In a statement posted on their social media accounts, Notting Hill Carnival Ltd said: “We wish to assure you that planning for NHC 2020 continues to be in full swing. After recent consultation with our strategic partners, there are still no plans to cancel.”
“Carnival has faced many challenges in its 50 plus year history and Carnivalists have always shown resilience. Of course it is necessary to adapt to the uncertainty we are all experiencing, as government advice can change at any time.”
Organisers said that they are hopeful that the situation in the UK will have improved by June.
More than a million people attend the carnival which takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
“We are taking the necessary safety measures to ensure our team is able to continue the necessary work required to deliver London’s iconic community-led event once again, whilst at the same time planning for every eventuality,” Notting Hill Carnival Ltd said.
The confirmation that the celebration of Caribbean culture will go ahead despite the current coronavirus outbreak has been welcomed by fans of the festivities.
One commenter wrote on Instagram: “Please keep this going. I hope that if we do come out of this by June that this will be one big celebration to celebrate life and to not take things for granted and to just remember to be kind!”
Another said: “If carnival gets cancelled, 2020 gets cancelled, that will be the final straw.”
The announcement comes as Glastonbury organisers said this year’s festival, originally scheduled to take place in June, will be postponed.
Kendrick Lamar, who was named just last week as the final headliner, was set to take to the iconic Pyramid Stage for the first time this summer.
Michael and Emily Eavis, the organisers of Glastonbury, which is in its 50th year, said: “We are so sorry to announce this, but Glastonbury 2020 will have to be cancelled, and this will be an enforced fallow year for the festival.”
They added: “We would like to send our sincere apologies to the 135,000 people who have already paid a deposit for a Glastonbury 2020 ticket. The balance payments on those tickets were due at the beginning of April and we wanted to make a firm decision before then.”
Those who had paid their £50 deposit will be given the opportunity to roll it over to 2021.
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4 Comments
I’m sorry but under the current circumstances and due to the very large gathering of people at the carnival it should not go ahead this year for the safety of the residents as well as the attendees.
Since the Olympic Games and other major events have had to be postponed the organisers of the carnival need to rethink their position also.
If the NBA is cancelled as well as other LARGER organizations, I think it’s safe to say that this also needs to be cancelled due to way too many people gathering at once. There is always next year and we shouldn’t take the risk, Europe also has a high volume of this virus let’s not forget. Xx
It must not go ahead it would be a death sentence cancel now do not have a carnival this year it would be unfair to people who have been doing the stay at home and all hard work will unfold from how great NHS work I cannot understand that theses organisation of the carnival are even thinking that it might go ahead are they brainless
They must be insane to think the carnival will go ahead. I agree with all the other comments so far. Also the police have better things to be getting on with in this crisis without being stretched even further amongst their rank and file. Let’s stop thinking about the financial gains this would bring and help continue to save lives.