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Thousands turn out to celebrate Caribbean Carnival

Dan HuntEast Midlands
News imageBBC Two women celebrating the carnivalBBC
The carnival included a parade through Leicester

Thousands of people turned out to celebrate Leicester's Caribbean Carnival.

The theme for this year's edition was Crowned by Culture - Caribbean Queens and Kings.

The annual event - held at Victoria Park on Saturday – involved a colourful carnival parade starting at the park, before heading into the city centre and back again.

Meldin Thomas, High Sherriff of Leicestershire, told the BBC the event "celebrates everything about the Caribbean", and was "open to all communities".

News imageA woman wearing a colourful outfit at the front of a procession of people
The theme for this year's edition was Crowned by Culture - Caribbean Queens and Kings
News imageThree women at the front of the image, two carrying Jamaica flags
The first Caribbean Carnival took place in Leicester in 1985
News imageA woman standing in a street dressed in green with groups of people in the background
Road closures were in place for the parade on Saturday
News imageA woman wearing a red outfit which has wings in front of other people in a parade
The carnival took place on Saturday 1 August
News imageFour people wearing colourful outfits in Leicester
The carnival is described as a day of celebration, reflection, and togetherness
News imageA person wearing an elaborate costume
The procession featured dancers in elaborate costumes

Additional reporting by Kevin Ncube and Izzy Morris

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