Caribbean Carnival - Preston City Centre

Preston's annual Caribbean Carnival celebrates the flamboyant and creative Caribbean culture within the city.

The Carnival features a procession where people of all ages and communities join together, bringing the city to life with an array of colours, fantastic costumes, live music and dancing. The procession weaves its way around Preston city centre, led by the Carnival King and Queen.

After all that thirsty work, the procession ends in Moor Park where delicious and authentic food, drink and family entertainment await.

Crowning of the Carnival King and Queen

The Caribbean Carnival is preceded by the crowning of the Carnival King and Queen a couple of weekends prior to the carnival. Months are spent making costumes based on a new theme chosen every year. At the crowning competition potential Kings and Queens showcase their costumes in a dazzling display of dance and music to impress the crowds and judges. All this takes place on Preston Flag Market, with the most impressive contestants winning the King and Queen crowns for the year.

Previous year's winners include a dramatic cobra and magnificent dragon.

Both the Caribbean Carnival and the King and Queen Crowning are free, making an enjoyable way to spend a day out with the family.

See Preston Caribbean Carnival Through the Years for even more photographs of the carnival through the years as well as Carnival traditions.