Carnival lights up Joburg
It is the eighth year that this festival, a stalwart on the entertainment calendar, will make its merry way through the famed City of Gold. More than 2 000 carnival participants from all seven regions will converge at Kotze Street in Hillbrow. Each region has its own subtheme, and will have its own mini-carnival in the weeks leading up to New Year's Eve. Other cultural groups residing in Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville will also be participating in the parade.
"The 2011 carnival will be bigger and better than ever!” says the Joburg Carnival's acting director Alba Letts. "Come and join us and support the participants who have been working long, exhausting hours to design costumes, build them and rehearse their moves for the big day. Come and join Joburg as we celebrate 125 years and see in the 126th year of Joburg's official existence.”
The mini carnivals kick off on Tuesday 20 December in the Alex, Sandton and Norwood areas with their theme, Siya Da! The next day sees Soweto celebrating its theme, Going Green. On Thursday, 22 December, Midrand and Ivory Park display their theme, Shuku Shuku Seed to City. The Westbury, Riverlea area comes alive on 23 December with its interpretation of Jozi Chameleon 125. On Tuesday 27 December, the Roodepoort and Braamfischer region celebrates Going Green, Going Clean. The next day, Inner City Evolution shows off the theme Revolution, and on 29 December Lenasia, Eldos, Orange Farm celebrate with Untold Stories and Milpark Skills Development celebrates with Indigenous Games.
The 2011 Johannesburg Carnival is brought to you by the City of Johannesburg's Community Development Department and the Directorate of Arts, Culture and Heritage.
The parade will start at noon in Kotze Street in downtown Jozi, and make its way to the Newtown Precinct across Mandela Bridge. It will end in Newtown Park with troupes from different regions competing against each other for the different prizes. There will be prizes for the best large costume, best troupe costume, best overall interpretation of the sub-themes and best choreographed region.
