Roots: Rotherham Street Carnival returns to Rotherham on Saturday 28th March, bringing giant puppets, colour, music and community pride to the borough in a spectacular free celebration for all ages. Now firmly established as a key date in Rotherham’s cultural calendar, this year’s event promises a vibrant programme of performances, workshops and a show-stopping carnival parade.
At the centre of this year’s parade will be a brand-new puppet created by Cabasa Carnival Arts and four Rotherham community groups, celebrating the borough’s rich cultural and natural heritage through powerful imagery and storytelling. The parade begins at 3.00pm, a joyful procession of puppets, banners, music and performance led by Bollywood Brass Band. Thousands of residents and visitors are expected to attend. Councillor Marshall, Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Green Spaces, explained: “This is the third year for Roots Carnival in Rotherham and it just gets bigger, better and more bizarre each year! We’ve been working with communities in Rotherham in the run up to the event to ensure it’s a true reflection of the creative talent of our borough.”
Returning after its debut at Roots 2024, Reign – the large-scale puppet created with young people and Emergency Exit Arts – will also make a special appearance alongside banners from Children’s Capital of Culture, community artworks, musical performances and local performing groups. Other parade highlights include Out of the Deep by Autin Dance, a breathtaking outdoor performance featuring a 13-foot-tall sea giant; Enchanted Woodland and a samba band to rouse the crowds.
Visitors can step inside the Pavilion of the Hopeful Sun to take part in free creative workshops where people of all ages can design and make their own carnival costumes, including headdresses, masks and sashes. Outside the Pavilion, young musicians programmed by Rotherham Music will deliver surprise pop-up performances.
There will also be a lively programme of music, drama and dance from local groups, as well as an outdoor puppet show: Like a Tree by Hocus Pocus Theatre. Throughout the day, roaming street entertainment will include characters from the parade – Enchanted Woodlands, Out of The Deep, Rotherham’s climate puppet Hope the Hedgehog, parading Pigeons and the Museum of Memorable Trees. Roots: Rotherham Street Carnival is delivered by Rotherham Council, in partnership with Children’s Capital of Culture and Rotherham Music, thanks to UK Shared Prosperity Funding through SYMCA.