IT'S almost time for Oxfordshire's biggest street party.
Around 50,000 revellers are expected to descend on Cowley Road for a day of music, colourful costumes and food.
When is it happening?
Today! Festivities will start on the East Oxford road from 11am and run until 5pm.
The main event is the colourful procession which will start from The Plain at 12.30pm.
Read our chat with carnival coordinator Anya Fox for a taste of what's in store
Come early to get a good spot to watch the hundreds of costumed performers, or try international dishes from one of the dozens of food stalls along the main road and spread along Manzil Way.
You can also see the Arcadia Bug fresh from its appearance at Glastonbury go up and down Cowley Road from 11.30am.
The curious vehicle will then stop at the Union Street disco zone to spread its wings and transform into a DJ stage.
DOWNLOAD A LARGE VERSION OF THE FESTIVAL MAP HERE
Getting there
If walking or cycling isn't an option then getting a bus near to Cowley Road is likely the best way to enjoy the event as parking will be very limited.
Cowley Road itself will be closed from The Plain to the junction with Magdalen Road from 7am until 9pm on the day.
Stagecoach services 1, 10 and 12 will be diverted between Cowley centre and The Plain via Church Cowley Road and Iffley Road, with stops along the latter the best place to get off.
What's the weather going to be like?
While we're unlikely to see the soaring temperatures of last year's carnival the chance of rain is very low.
The current forecast is for a cloudy start turning to sunny intervals by lunchtime.
It is set to reach 20C by 2pm and stay that way for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening.
Parade
The mile-long procession down Cowley Road is always the main attraction on carnival day.
This year's theme is 'Space is the Place' to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing as well as Oxford's contribution to science.
A giant telescope, planets and even a space jellyfish have been created for the procession.
Also look out for a Mini transformed into a rocket, complete with red smoke, by the apprentices at the Cowley plant.
Line up and festival map
From hip hop and disco to folk and jazz there is something for everyone at the many venues spread throughout the main road and its side streets.
CARNIVAL MUSIC STAGE
The main stage will be headlined by ska jazz brass act Papa Nai, the UK’s pioneering Indian-style wedding band Bollywood Brass Band and Oxford Cuban style big band Ran Kan Kan. You can also enjoy a performance by Ola Samba.
DISCO ZONE (UNION STREET)
The supermarket car park will be filled with disco fever thanks to the Arcadia Bug fresh from Glastonbury, with Pretty Young Things playing an infectious mix of funk, soul and disco from the unique DJ stand.
There will also be flash mob dance from Body Politic and Parasol, plus fairground rides and the official carnival bar.
CARNIVAL VILLAGE GREEN
It’s all going on at the green space between Manzil Way and Divinity Road, with Cyc du Soleil hosting spoken word, comedy and mandolin music.
Inspired by this year’s cosmic theme there will also be a pendulum wave machine as an interactive science art installation, plus more fairground rides, a climbing wall and bars.
420 SKATES (MARSTON STREET)
Here you can find music from Oxford’s leading hip-hop, dance and artists and DJ’s throughout the day.
RESTORE GARDEN
Acoustic reigns supreme in the Restore Garden off Manzil Way featuring performances by popular local group Deadbeat Apostles, rising star Henry Grace, the Scott Gordon Band mixing blues, country and folk, plus Oxfordshire folk duo Wednesday’s Wolves and Matt Russ.
GLOBAL DANCE STAGE
A full programme of dance throughout the day representing all genres from belly to ballet, street to samba will be based next to the Asian Cultural Centre on Manzil Way.
DISCOVERY ZONE
For World Music head to St Mary & St John Church. Inside you can see Bayt, an exhibition of Arabic hospitality with dance, music and food.
DINGLEY DELL
Families with younger children can head to the bottom of Manzil Way where there will be a grassy picnic area, acoustic music, craft workshops, recycling activities and The Story Museum’s Little Shop of Stories.
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