Carnaval del Pueblo

Londoners and visitors to the capital will join Europe's largest celebration of Latin American culture when the eighth Carnaval Del Pueblo takes place in Burgess Park.

Internationally renowned reggaeton star, Puerto Rico's Andy Boy, Colombian all women orchestra Canela and Los Embajadores de Vallenatta will headline the main stage. Three further stages will reflect dance, music and carnival activities from nineteen Latin American countries and include Son Real Orchestra and Ilusion Flamenca.

The event is organised by Carnaval Del Pueblo Association in partnership with Southwark Council, with support from the Mayor of London and the European Social Fund EQUAL lead by City University and Noticias Latin America.

Carnaval Del Pueblo kicks off with a spectacular procession of exotic floats, costumes, musicians and dancers weaving their way to Burgess Park. The parade includes floats and dance rhythms inspired by carnivals in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.

The procession sets off from City Hall at 12 noon, making its way past London Bridge, along Borough High Street, to Elephant and Castle and Walworth Road. Festival-goers are encouraged to line the parade streets and accompany the procession before it arrives at Burgess Park, where it will enter through Chumleigh Gardens, off Albany Road, at 3pm.

Puerto Rico's biggest reggaeton star, Andy Boy, will give a live performance of the Latino hip-hop and rap mix that is taking the dance music world by storm. The festival will also welcome young Colombians accompanying La Chica Latina - The Latin Girl. Under the artistic directorship of Luis Lema (of 'La Salsa Esta De Moda' fame), Ayra-Valentina, aged nine, will perform song and dance medleys in a tightly choreographed show. The Latin Girl will perform her first recorded song 'Chica Latina' penned by Lema and unveil the 'Chica Latina dance', which is guaranteed to sway the park!

Dance workshops will take place throughout the day offering carnival participants a choice of salsa, merengue, tango, boogaloo and cumbia. The festival will also host the finals of the first UK-wide salsa dance competition on the main stage.

A food village with 80 stalls will serve authentic Latin American food, from barbecued beef chusos to fried plantains and yucca, Colombian homemade ice cream to the famous Brazilian cocktail, the Caphirina.

There will also be a funfair, arts and crafts market, and a range of exciting activities for kids, including an inflatables area and activity tables for making hand puppets, jewellery and bags, organised by Rosana Dzienis from Paraguay.