Fife International Carnival

Next Event Date: Saturday 18th July 2015.

Fife International Carnival 2014

Press Release: 25th June 2014.

FIFE INTERNATIONAL CARNIVAL

Produced by Jazz Scotland, Fife Cultural Trust and Kirkcaldy4all, with support from Fife Council

Saturday 19^th July, 2-4.30pm

High Street and Town House Square, Kirkcaldy

Free admission

After a hugely successful first year, Fife International Carnival is back

with a riot of colour and music!

The Fife International Carnival is back! In July 2013, 10,000 people came from all over Fife to soak up the sun amid an extravaganza of costumes, music, dance and street theatre. For 2014, the fun just gets bigger and brighter!

On Saturday 19^th July from 2-4.30pm, over 170 international performers will arrive on the streets of Kirkcaldy, ready to wow the crowds with a spectacle of exotic carnival costumes, dazzling dance, furious drumming, circus performances and a blood-pumping mix of feel-good music. With thanks to Fife Council and Kirkcaldy4all, this family-friendly event is free for all!

Performers are flying in from 16 countries, including the Bahamas, Brazil, Malaysia, South Africa, Trinidad, Zambia, Japan, the Netherlands and Germany to play alongside fantastic acts from Scotland and the rest of the UK.

The Carnival will kick off at 2pm, transforming Kirkcaldy High Street into a vision of New Orleans or Rio as the acts parade along the entire pedestrianised area. At the same time, there will be two stages in Town House Square: one for music and one for dance, to keep the carnival spirit alive all afternoon.

Among the musical acts coming to entertain are Junkanoo Commandos from the Bahamas, who showcased their flamboyant costumes and rousing music at the 50^th Anniversary of Martin Luther King’s ‘Dream’ speech at the Lincoln Memorial last year; KalentuRa, an Afro-Caribbean drumming band from the Netherlands known for their inciting live shows; and Artscape’s Youth Band from South Africa, a fantastic jazz marching band, which provides opportunities for young people from the townships of Cape Town.

The Fife International Carnival has been put together by Fife Cultural Trust, Jazz Scotland and Kirkcaldy4all, with the support of Fife Council.

Frank Chinn of Fife Cultural Trust said:

“I’m delighted Fife Cultural Trust is able to bring such a vibrant, colourful and free event back to the streets of Kirkcaldy. Carnival is one of the highlights of our year.”  

Roger Spence of Jazz Scotland said:

“The High Street and Town House Square proved to be ideal locations for our Carnival last year, and I think we surprised everybody in Kirkcaldy, and ourselves, with the success of the event. It was such a pleasure for us and for the many people who supported the event, to have that really special party atmosphere first time around. Maybe Kirkcaldy and Carnival were made for each other? Let’s hope we can do it again – and even better – on July 19.”

Bill Harvey of Kirkcaldy4all said:

“Without doubt this was the largest Town Centre Event of the year. It was a fantastic fun filled afternoon for people of all ages and does a great deal to showcase how vibrant Kirkcaldy town centre can be. Kirkcaldy4all supports this event and we hope that this year’s carnival will be an even bigger success for the town – benefiting both the public and the town centre businesses.”

Councillor, Neil Crooks, Chair of Kirkcaldy Area Committee said:

“This second carnival in Kirkcaldy is building our reputation as a place to experience brilliant cultural events. Last year we had the superb sunny weather to enhance the feelgood factor generated by the Fife International Carnival and for this one Saturday in July we will again be THE international carnival centre of Planet Earth Copacabana in Kirkcaldy! Superb!”

Linda Temple, Cultural Partnerships & Events Strategy Manager said:

“We financially supported the carnival event last year and were extremely pleased with the results and the amount of people that it brought to Kirkcaldy. The carnival has been supported again this year from the Strategic Events Investment Programme as one of 24 key events happening across Fife as part of Scotland’s Year of Homecoming and the fantastic programme will prove to be a brilliant colourful experience for people of all ages.”

The full programme for the Carnival will be presented in a colourful double-spread special in the Fife Free Press on Thursday 17^th July. Thereafter, details of performances will be available from www.onfife.com.

Volunteers needed

Carnival organisers are also looking for the community to get involved! Adults and children of all ages can take part in the parade, if they can come along on the day and wear one of the vibrant carnival costumes. Interested groups or individuals should contact [email protected].