Saturday 21st/Sunday 22nd August 2010

If you enjoy the vibes of  the Notting Hill Carnival such as Steel Pan or Calypso, and are excited by the vibrant costumes that parade around the Carnival route each year, then you shouldn’t miss the  Grand Carnival Splash at the Alexandra Palace, one of various events that preview Europe’s largest festival of cultural arts.

Probably the most high profile preview event is the  Notting Hill Carnival's Grand Carnival Costume Splash taking place at  on Saturday 21st  and Sunday 22nd August 2010. The adult's competition on Saturday and the children's on Sunday. The Carnival  Splash is your first opportunity to see each band’s Best Male and Female and their Kings and Queens.

Although you can also see the costumes at Carnival a week later, their weight means that they often can’t be carried all the way around the long route. Only at the Gala are you able to see the individual costumes in their totality. At the Alexandra Palace the bands are competing for the titles of King and Queen and Best Male and Female of Carnival, so the costumes are paraded in their full glory in the hope of securing the honour of being Carnival’s première band.

The Splash begins at 3.00 pm Saturday ; 12 noon Sunday with a spectacular array of  Mas Bands.

Admission Sat 21st : Adults £20/£15 adv

                                - Children £15/£10 adv

Admission Sun 22nd : Adults £15/£12 adv

                                - Children £10/£8 adv

Concessions/under 5s free