THE UK’S BIGGEST SAMBA CARNIVAL
AND WEEKEND IS A BIG HIT AGAIN
Photographs by Patrick Trollope.

 

WHAT a night!  The start of the 2011 Liverpool Brazilian Carnival, "Brazilica" even had a rainbow above it, but sadly, despite the rain holding off through out the main event.  It was estimate that over 60,000 had turned out to enjoy what is now the UK’s biggest Brazilian Samba Carnival.   With thousands spectators lined the streets on Saturday, 16 July 2011, to witness the parade of over 500 Samba dancers, drummers and stunning floats, from the 14 Samba schools who came from all over the UK and as far as Brazil!  The night time parade was undoubted jewel in the carnival’s crown of a weekend of carnival fun that had many other events taking place in, through out the city.  The procession of the bands and dancers ended at Williamson Square.   Sadly, despite the rainbow at the start, the last few minuets of the night saw the rain return...  But the very heavy down poor did not dampen the spirits or spoil the night!  Juice FM, the dancers and the band kept every one glued to the spot as the climatic dances took place on what has to be the best Carnival to have been hosted in the North West ever!   In fact the video we are uploading will let you see highlights of the parade as well as the finarlly on the stage.

Sadly we did not get a chance to the the other events including the UK’s first Samba Carnival Queen Competition at Bem Brasil on Friday evening, which saw Liverpool Carnival Company’s Simone Reeves take the title over 6 other dancers from London, Birmingham and Manchester. Simone was crowned by Liverpool’s own Ken Dodd, who was reportedly tickled by the evening. Events also took place at LEAF, Bold Street Coffee, Santa Chupitos, and the Monroe. A spectacular after party took place following the carnival parade at Nation on Walstenholme Square. Despite the early rain, Saturday saw Williamson Square turned into a Brazilian town square complete with food market, bar, soccer zone and craft hub.

The event also had a serious side with the Action for Brazil’s Children Trust’s Brazilica Big City Sleep taking place at the Bluecoat.  That event saw a dozen Liverpool people sleep out for one night.

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Over 250 people took part in the BRAZILICA Charity Zumbathon on the Sunday.    "We would like to than to the hotel bosses, of Liverpool’s Hilton Hotel, who helped us by moving it in to the hotel, because of the rain.  We are please to report that that event raised over £1000 for The Marie Curie Hospice, Woolton and ourselves." said Liverpool Carnival Company.

Simone Reeves Principle Dancer and Carnival Queen said:- "Wow! The carnival parade was awesome and the festival as a whole was sensational! Thank you to all who were involved and especially to all of the fabulous dancers. They all looked hot and I was ever so proud of them!"

Maeve Morris, festival producer at Liverpool Carnival Company said:- "We’d like to thank everyone who turned out to samba along with us over the course of the weekend. We'd also like to thank all of our funders, partners & supporters, as well as our wonderful performers, dancers, crew, volunteers, stall holders & programmers who made the weekend possible, it's been samba magic!"

More information can be found online.  We hope that the Liverpool Carnival Company will keep this show for 2012 and that the City will continue to support what is a fantastic event in our regions tourist calendar.

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