The Notting Hill Carnival is the largest street festival in Europe, held each August in London. It began as a local festival set up by the West Indian community in Notting Hill but has grown into a massive Caribbean carnival celebrating Caribbean culture. Over the course of a weekend, the streets of Notting Hill come alive with colorful costumes, floats, food stalls, and performances by steel drum bands. Over 1 million people now attend the annual Notting Hill Carnival celebrations.

2. NOTTING HILL CANIVAL

3. COSTUME (N.)
 clothes or a garment typical of a certain
period, country, activity, or profession.

4. CARNIVAL (N.)
 a public entertainment with processions
and dancing on a special occasion, or a
period of time when this takes place.

5. ANNUAL (ADJ.)
 happening or done every year or once a
year.

6. TRADITION (N.)
 the passing down of opinion, beliefs,
practices, and customs from the past to the
present.

7. MASSIVE (ADJ.)
 extremely large, strong, or powerful.

8. STRUCTURE
 How to use “used to”
 We use “used to” to talk about past events
which we no longer do. We only use it to talk
about the past; there is no similar expression
for the present.

9.  Example:
 'I studied French, but I don’t anymore.' →
'I used to study French.'
 'In the past I smoked, but I don't now.' →
'I used to smoke.'


10.  Note: after 'used to' we alway use the
infinitive. Never use a continuous or past
tense verb:
 'I used to smoke.'
 'I used to smoking.'
 'I used to smoked.'

11. THE NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL IS THE LARGEST
STREET FESTIVAL IN EUROPE
 Held each August Bank Holiday since 1966,
the Notting Hill Carnival is the largest festival
celebration of its kind in Europe. Every year
the streets of West London come alive, with
the sounds and smells of Europe’s biggest
street festival. Twenty miles of vibrant
colourful costumes surround over 40 static
sound systems, hundreds of Caribbean food
stalls over 40,000 volunteers and over 1
million Notting Hill carnival revellers.

12.  Starting its life as a local festival set up by the
West Indian community of the Notting Hill area,
it has now become a full-blooded Caribbean
carnival, attracting millions of visitors from all
over the globe. With many astonishing floats
and the sounds of the traditional steel drum
bands, scores of massive sound systems plus
not forgetting the hundreds of stalls that line the
streets of Notting Hill. The Notting Hill Carnival
is arguably London’s most exciting annual
event.

13.  The Notting Hill Carnival used to get under way
on the Saturday with the steel band competition.
Sunday is Kids’ Day, when the costume prizes
are awarded. On Bank Holiday Monday, the
main parade takes place. It generally begins on
Great Western Road, then winds its way along
Chepstow Road, on to Westbourne Grove, and
then Ladbroke Grove. In the evening, the floats
leave the streets in procession, and people
carry continue partying at the many Notting Hill
Carnival after parties.

14. ACTIVITY 1
 Activity 1 (While-listening)
 Direction : Choose the best answer.

 The Notting Hill Carnival is the largest street festival in Europe
 Held each August Bank Holiday since 1966, the Notting Hill Carnival is the largest festival
celebration of its kind in Europe. Every year the streets of West London come alive, with the
sounds and smells of Europe’s biggest ( street/road ) festival. Twenty miles of vibrant colourful
costumes surround over 40 static sound systems, hundreds of Caribbean ( food/drink ) stalls over
40,000 volunteers and over 1 million Notting Hill carnival revellers.
 Starting its life as a local festival set up by the West ( Indian/India ) community of the Notting Hill
area, it has now become a full-blooded Caribbean (festival/carnival), attracting millions of (
visitors/viewers ) from all over the globe. With many astonishing floats and the sounds of the
traditional steel drum bands, scores of massive sound systems plus not forgetting the hundreds of
stalls that line the streets of Notting Hill. The Notting Hill Carnival is arguably London’s most (
excited/exciting ) annual event.
 The Notting Hill Carnival used to get under way on the Saturday with the steel band competition.
Sunday is Kids’ Day, when the ( costume/clothe ) prizes are awarded. On Bank Holiday Monday,
the main parade takes place. It ( generally/actually ) begins on Great Western Road, then winds
its way along Chepstow Road, on to Westbourne Grove, and then Ladbroke Grove. In the evening,
the floats leave the streets in procession, and people carry continue partying at the many Notting
Hill Carnival after parties.

15. ACTIVITY 2
 Let’s compare
 Direction: Compare the Thai Carnival and
the Notting Hill Carnival.