Carnival, is not just a big celebration...

It is more than that!

Cowley Road Carnival, is the catalyst for CRW’s year round delivery of cultural outreach. CRW is the charity that delivers Carnival and as an organisation, works with many local groups, charities, and individuals, facing different social and personal barriers.

By engaging with these hard to reach groups as well as schools, universities, businesses and other community partners CRW are proud to use the arts as a way to explore and express the life situations they may be facing or to discuss and uncover feelings around issues such as gender identity, ethnic tensions, faith based issues, cultural differences, mental health, challenges of disability and many more.

CRW also work tirelessley to provide opportunities to nurture and develop artistic skills, talents and opportunities within the region. By offering industry standard training, mentoring and expereinces or providing open access to world class arts and bringing the right organisations and partners together to influence local and regional cultural output. Carnival, is a product of this thinking.

Carnival, also generates over £1000,000 for the Oxford economy in just six hours!

Carnival, 2017 was the best Carnival yet, praised by sponsors, local dignatries, supporters, attendees and funders. Please help us to consistently deliver this amazing community event through giving a donation, giving sponsorship, building a partnership or offering volunteer support.

We need to raise £250,000 per year to keep Carnival afloat. Please help if you can! 

Click here if you would like to donate.

All information under:

http://www.cowleyroadworks.co.uk

The Procession

The procession is always one of the star attractions of Carnival Day. Hundreds of people take part in their groups including many of the schools from the area, Oxford Brookes University, bands of musicians and community groups.

In 2017 the procession included a large group from the Oxford University Indonesian Society in traditional Indonesian costumes, the Oxford Brookes University F1 car and Martie – brother to Artie the humanoid robot which was in the Brookes zone.

Regular participants include:

• Uniao da Mocidade (UDMSamba) from London. 30 piece Rio-Style samba band in full carnival costume and flag bearing dancing couple.
• Schools including Larkrise, Garsington, East Oxford and St Barnabas, Church Cowley, St James, St Francis C of E, Wood Farm and March Baldon Primary Schools and Chilworth House Upper School
• The Young Women’s Musical Project.
• Sol Samba Brazilian drummers and dancers
• Oxford/Leon Association
• Horns of Plenty
• Red Dhollies dhol drumming
• Strawberry Fayre Majorettes
• Fusion Arts
• Nepalese Community in traditional dress
• East Timor Community traditional costume, music and dance
• West Papuan Community
• Ark T
• Oxford Pride
• Pegasus Theatre