Everything you need to know about Leeds West Indian Carnival 2023
Carnival is back for another year!
A true celebration of Caribbean culture, colour and mesmerising costumes, Carnival is always a spectacle that sees people travelling from all over the city and beyond for what is Europe’s Oldest Authentic Caribbean Carnival.
The festival is run entirely by volunteers who specialise in preserving and protecting Caribbean arts, culture and heritage. Founded in the city in 1967 by Dr France, it is the celebration of the emancipation of slavery and attracts over 150,000 people each year.
And each year the events just seem to get bigger and better – and we’ve got all the information you need to make the most of the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Here’s everything going on over the weekend, including road closures, parade times and more…
Events
Saturday 26 August – Carnival Royalty Show at Leeds Playhouse
Monday 28 August – Jouvert morning – 6am and Carnival parade 2pm
Saturday 16 September – Pop-up carnival – New Briggate
Carnival Royalty Show
New to the Leeds Carnival for this year is the Royal Carnival Show. With Kings, Queens, Prince, Princesses and Soca Monarchs, the family-friendly show expects to ‘dazzle’ the audience with exciting costumes and never-seen-before acts.
Hosted by comedian Annette Fagon, tickets cost £25 each for VIP or £12.50 for standard tickets.
Tickets can be purchased from the Leeds Playhouse website here.
The Parade
This year the carnival route will take place on the Bank Holiday Monday from 2pm, beginning on Harehills Avenue, before turning right on to Harehills Lane.
Then you’ll go turn right on to Roundhay Road, right on to Barack Road and up Chapeltown Road back to Harehills Avenue to finish.
In order for the celebrations to take place, the roads around the area will be closed over Sunday 27 August and Monday 28 August at specific times.
There will be plenty more to check out around the area on the day too, including a fairground, BBQs, Caribbean food stalls and more…
Road Closures
Keep reading to find out all the road closure times for this year’s Leeds West Indian Carnival.
Closed from Sunday 27 August from 12.00
- Saville Drive – Chapeltown Road to Mexborough Road (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Saville Place – Chapeltown Road to Mexborough Road (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Mexborough Drive – Chapeltown Road to Mexborough Road (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Mexborough Street – Chapeltown Road to Mexborough Road (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Mexborough Grove – Chapeltown Road to Mexborough Road (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Button Hill – Chapeltown Road west for 30m (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Reginald Terrace – Chapeltown Road west for 50m (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Reginald Street – Chapeltown Road west for 30m (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Newton Park View – The whole (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Louis Street – Chapeltown Road to Cross Louis Street (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Francis Street- Chapeltown Road to Cross Francis Street (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Cowper Street – Chapeltown Road to Back Grange Terrace (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Grange Avenue – Chapeltown Road to Back Grange Avenue (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Nassau Place – Harehills Avenue to Back Harehills Avenue (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Spencer Place – Harehills Avenue to Back Pasture Road (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Shepherd’s Place – Harehills Avenue to Back Pasture Road (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Ellers Road – Harehills Avenue to Back Pasture Road (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Beck Road – Harehills Avenue to Baldovan Mount (until 12.00 on Tuesday 29 August)
- Chapeltown Road – From Barrack Road to Newton Road
- Harehills Avenue – From Chapeltown Road to Avenue Hill (until 6.30am on Tuesday 29 August)
- Avenue Hill – The Whole (until 6.30am on Tuesday 29 August)
Closing Monday 28 August 2023 from 5am
- Laycock Place – The whole (until 9.00am on Monday 28 August)
- Saville Mount – Laycock Place to Chapeltown Road (until 9.00am on Monday 28 August)
- Spencer Place – Harehills Avenue to Louis Street (until 9.00am on Monday 28 August)
- Louis Street – The whole (until 9.00am on Monday 28 August)
Closing Monday 28 August 2023 from 6am
- Harehills Avenue – Avenue Hill to Harehills Lane (until 10pm on Monday 28 August)
- Harehills Lane – Harehills Avenue to Roundhay Road (until 10pm on Monday 28 August)
- Roundhay Road – Easterly Road to Barrack Road (until 10pm on Monday 28 August)
- Barrack Road – The whole (until 10pm on Monday 28 August)
Read More:
- Everything you need to know about every festival coming to Leeds this summer
- 40 years ago, Leeds came together for the final Rock Against Racism concert
- The best things to do in and around Leeds this month | August 2023
For more information about Leeds West Indian Carnival, check the dedicated Instagram page here.
Feature Image – Leeds West Indian Carnival