Aviane Hunte, aka Trini Nista, is a communications professional (on hiatus) from Trinidad and Tobago, and a full time Masters student in London. She loves travelling and exploring new places, cultures and meeting the people who make each town or city so unique. Read her blog on life and style and the London lifestyle at http://trininista.blogspot.com

On 7-8 March this year, millions of people will converge on an island that is a mere dot on the world map, but which radiates euphoria, creativity, spectacular colour and revelry. Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is known as “The Greatest Show on Earth” and for many Trinbagonians, there is nothing better.

Notting Hill Carnival

Miles away, across the Atlantic, the Caribbean diaspora in the United Kingdom have recreated the magic of the island revelry in Europe’s largest street festival: London’s Notting Hill Carnival. With Trinbagonian origins, Notting Hill Carnival is a celebration of the Caribbean traditions of masquerade and innovation, and is a manifestation of the colour and camaraderie of Caribbean people in London.

Origins of Notting Hill Carnival

Recreating the “mas” in West London goes back to 1964, where calypso, steel pan and mas formed the nexus of a celebration of a community, far removed from their origins physically, but striving to keep their links to the islands intact. Since then, the festival has grown in popularity and takes place every year over the August Bank Holiday weekend (28-29 Aug in 2011). The streets of Notting Hill are transformed from black asphalt carriage ways to waves of colour and people, from different backgrounds and experiences, accompanied by the blare of Caribbean music from massive sound systems and the rhythms of steelpan and drums. Add the aroma of rich Caribbean food and it’s an exotic weekend getaway, without really going anywhere.

Sounds of Carnival: Steelpan and Soca

Trinidad and Tobago joins the rest of the English and non-English speaking Caribbean in making Notting Hill Carnival a true blend of cultures and diversity. The sounds of steelpan and soca, (the popular music of Carnival parties or fetes) help define the festival, echoing its parent festival in Trinidad and Tobago. The musical art form has continued to evolve with the Indo-Caribbean influence creating chutney and soca-chutney music, with rapso and ragga soca, with strong American and Jamaican influences, also laying claim to the hips of revellers.

It is easy enough to try to describe a festival like this, and the energy which comes from the people – strangers of all shades, sizes and personalities, who meet each other on the streets of West London and form friendships over a beer, or a wine (the hip gyrating dance associated with soca music). Yet to really experience the vivacity of the people of Trinidad and Tobago and the rest of the Caribbean, you really just need to be there.

Experience Notting Hill Carnival

So, while Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, which Time Magazine recently described as the “technicolour giant of all Caribbean carnivals” heats up in the southern Caribbean and you sit in London, wondering how and when you can experience such a thing – take a turn into Notting Hill in August and engage in the spontaneity and effervescence of the islands of the Caribbean. You don’t need much besides a camera, a posse, your waistline and a sense of adventure because this is a slice of the hot and spicy Caribbean in the heart of London.

Have you been to Notting Hill Carnival? Perhaps you’ve experienced another aspect of Trinbagonian culture in London? Tell us about it in the comments below.

The sun shone on Notting Hill Carnival this weekend as more than a million revellers joined in the fun.

Did you go to Notting Hill Carnival? Tell us what you enjoyed. The food? The music? The colourful floats?

And don’t forget to add your carnival photos to our Flickr pool.

• Join Europe’s biggest street festival, the Notting Hill Carnival and don’t forget to add your pics to our Flickr pool. 29-30 Aug
• Continue the party at The Mason’s Arms with a post-carnival garden party on Sunday and Snowbombing launch party on Monday. 29-30 Aug
• Take a tour of the Thames Tunnel. 30 Aug
• Dance to Latin and Spanish sounds at Camino’s Fiesta En La Calle. 29 Aug
• Do something cultural and see one of London’s Top 10 exhibitions
• Chill out at Hampton Court Palace Beer and Jazz Festival with acts including Tony Hadley. 27-30 Aug
• Head to a festival. If you got SW4 tickets congrats, if you missed out why not try the brand new LED Festival – David Guetta, Goldfrapp and Leftfield are on the line-up. 27-28 Aug

The Bank Holiday means two things for London’s clubbing community – more time to party and more time to recover!

From after-parties to burlesque speed-dating – take a look at our highlights:

Post Carnival Parties

Notting Hill Carnival is the biggest event of the Bank Holiday weekend. After the sparkly costumes and jerk chicken are packed away each evening, there are plenty of places where you can continue the party spirit.

• On Friday, Fabric brings its annual Playaz Carnival Special. The drum’n'bass night includes a two-hour set from DJ Hype.
• DJ Yoda, Kissy Sellout and The Maccabees provide entertainment conveniently close to the parade route at Paradise Carnival Party on Sunday and Monday.
• If you’ve overdone it at the carnival, head to ETA’s Carnival After Party in Shepherd’s Bush, where there’ll be yurts for tired carnival-goers to relax in, as well as live art performances. The night promises music ranging from British hip-hop to progressive electronica – all in a disused 70s cinema!

Get Loaded in The Park and South West Four

If you’re not at the carnival, chances are you’ll be spending most of your weekend on Clapham Common which is hosting the double whammy of Get Loaded in The Park and South West Four.

• The festivals wind up at 9pm but we suggest you pop over to The Coronet on Saturday for the Official South West Four After Party, hosted by Eric Prydz.
• WetYourSelf at Fabric is providing the Official Get Loaded in The Park After Party on Sunday.

The Best of The Rest

The Rakes and Does It Offend You, Yeah? will both be DJing during 12 hours non-stop at The Old Queen’s Head on Sunday. And its free if you get there before 8pm.

Or head down to Brixton on Saturday where the Hoxton Whores and Maxi Jazz (of Faithless) will keep you going until 6am at Mass!

Eastern Electrics provided a legendary Bank Holiday weekender last year, and they’re planning to do the same again. Stages will be hosted by promoters including Neon Noise, Trailer Trash and Mulletover.

Finally, if you’re hoping for a little romance this Bank Holiday, try Peacock Bar in Clapham, which is hosting a burlesque speed dating night on Monday. Happily, you won’t need any nipple tassle expertise to take part – the burlesque acts will entertain you while you speed date. And there’ll be yummy cocktails and cheesy 80s and 90s DJs too.

Do you have any Bank Holiday clubs to recommend? We’d love to hear your ideas.

Last week we gave in to our animal instincts and asked who was your favourite four-legged London friend. Thanks to everyone who commented.

Today, we’re looking ahead to the weekend, and London’s big street party: the Notting Hill Carnival.

The biggest festival of its kind in Europe, the Notting Hill Carnival has some impressive stats:

• 20 miles of costumes
• 40 static sound systems
• 100s of caribbean food stalls
• 40,000 volunteers
• 1 million revellers

We want to know, what’s your best Notting Hill Carnival memory?

Is there a particular costume that sticks in your mind? A tune that will always remind you of a stunning summer’s day in West London? A moment when you met and partied with a fellow reveller? Something truly crazy that sums up the spirit of London’s best carnival?

Let us know!