Caribbean Carnival of Manchester

What Caribbean Carnival of Manchester does

The Caribbean Carnival of Manchester, operating under the Manchester Carnival Together Community Interest Company, is a non-profit cultural event organizer that produces an annual two-day Caribbean carnival in Manchester each August. Founded in 1972 in Moss Side, the event now draws 50,000-65,000 attendees and engages 1,600+ vendors, performers, and community participants across Alexandra Park, with a parade route through Hulme and Moss Side. The core product is the festival itself, comprising the J'ouvert morning parade, the main masquerade parade, the King and Queen Show (a ticketed costume competition revived in 2023 after a 17-year absence), and Carnival in the Park with multiple themed stages (Main Stage, Jamaican Corner, African Corner, Bloc 2 Bloc, Black Hudu, Youth Stage, Legacy 90.1, Good Ladies). Supporting service lines include the Carnival X youth development programme (creative-industries training), a volunteer programme (18+ ambassadors and backstage support), and a trader programme (stall operator onboarding). Underlying technology is minimal; ticketing runs on Eventbrite, broadcasting is delivered via community radio partner Legacy 90.1 FM, and digital marketing is limited to Instagram, Facebook, and X. The business model is a hybrid non-profit mix: trader stall fees (transaction), tiered sponsorship packages (advertising), ticketed sub-events (transaction), public donations (contributed income), and grant funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council, and People's Postcode Lottery (institutional income). Customer segments span general public visitors (free attendees), traders and vendors, volunteers, youth participants, performing troupes and mas bands, and corporate sponsors seeking brand visibility into a 90,000-strong digital audience.

Name

Caribbean Carnival of Manchester

Legal name

Manchester Caribbean Carnival

Website

https://themanchestercarnival.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Caribbean Carnival of Manchester, run by the Manchester Carnival Together CIC, produces an annual two-day Caribbean cultural festival in Moss Side and Alexandra Park each August, drawing 50,000-65,000 attendees and 1,600+ performers, vendors, and volunteers since 1972.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Events and Festival Management

NAICS

All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (713990), Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (7139), Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Parades, Carnivals & Street Fairs (MPAGAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO)

Keywords

• Cultural festival events
• Community carnival management
• Event sponsorship packages
• Youth creative programs
• Trader marketplace services

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Trader Stall Fees: Revenue generated from traders who pay fees to operate stalls at the carnival event. Applications are processed through a formal system with non-refundable fees and admin charges. Traders must commit to trading for both days of the event.
2. Sponsorship Packages: Businesses can purchase sponsorship packages that provide on-site branding, product showcasing, advertising in carnival guide publications, inclusion in press and media marketing, and website links. Packages are tailored to meet specific sponsor requirements.
3. Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticketed events such as the King and Queen Show, which is sold through Eventbrite platform.
4. Donations: The organization accepts donations from supporters through its website, enabling public contributions to support the carnival.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Caribbean Carnival of Manchester delivers an annual two-day free public carnival festival at Alexandra Park in Manchester, featuring a street parade, J'ouvert morning celebrations, King and Queen Show, and multi-stage live performances celebrating Caribbean culture. The organisation also sells sponsorship packages to businesses, accepts trader stall applications for vendors, runs ticketed sub-events, and operates the Carnival X youth development programme.

Product overview

Manchester Caribbean Carnival is an annual cultural festival operating as a single unified event product since 1972. The core offering is the two-day carnival festival in August featuring the Carnival Parade (encompassing J'ouvert Morning and the Main Parade), King and Queen Show, and Carnival in the Park with multiple stages. Supporting services include the Carnival X youth development programme, Volunteer Programme, and Trader Programme. The festival celebrates Caribbean heritage through music, dance, costumes, and community participation, held at Alexandra Park in Manchester.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Carnival X: Youth carnival program that creates pathways into the creative industries for young people, offering hands-on experience delivering a major live event.

Products and services

• Manchester Caribbean Carnival Festival Annual two-day Caribbean cultural festival at Alexandra Park, Manchester, featuring parades, performances, food, and cultural showcases for the general public. The flagship event of the organisation since 1972.
• J'ouvert Morning Early morning street parade starting around 6:30am–7am, featuring DJs, sound systems, paint, powder, and water celebrations in the Trinidadian carnival tradition.
• King and Queen Show Ticketed showcase event featuring elaborate traditional carnival costumes where Kings and Queens present their costumes and performances in competition, judged on creativity, design, and presentation. Tickets sold via Eventbrite.
• Carnival Parade Main parade featuring masquerade troupes, floats, and sound systems winding through Moss Side into Alexandra Park, encompassing J'ouvert, King & Queen showcase, and the main parade.
• Carnival X Youth Programme Youth development programme creating pathways into creative industries for young people, offering hands-on experience in event management, stage production, media, marketing, community engagement, and live event delivery.
• Carnival in the Park Festival within Alexandra Park featuring multiple stages including Main Stage, Jamaican Corner, Bloc 2 Bloc, African Corner, Youth Stage, and Legacy 90.1 stage, with performances, music, and dance showcases.
• Trader Programme Trading opportunity for vendors to operate stalls at the carnival event, with applications processed through online forms and space allocations within Alexandra Park boundaries. Traders pay non-refundable fees and admin charges.
• Sponsorship Packages Custom sponsorship packages for businesses providing on-site branding, product showcasing, advertising in carnival guide publications, inclusion in press and media marketing, and website links to reach 90,000+ digital and 50,000+ in-person audiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 58,000+ attendees in 2023 with 40 emerging artists and 20 troupes performing
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AfterWebDevminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing website design services for the carnival organization.
• One ManchestercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor supporting the Manchester Caribbean Carnival as part of their community investment programme.
• JigsawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the carnival event.
• Arawak WaltonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing support for the carnival.
• UA92minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHigher education institution sponsor supporting the carnival.
• MSVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the carnival event.
• Legacy 90.1 FMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManchester's No.1 black community radio station, broadcasting music of Black origin from Caribbean and African roots. Provides live streaming during carnival and year-round community connection. Radio host Lynn provides access to Legacy YouTube channel.
• Manchester City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner providing support and permissions for the carnival event operations.
• Greater Manchester Police (GMP)minorOthersPolice force providing safety and security support during the carnival event.
• Manchester Power HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization part of Manchester Carnival Together (CIC), contributing to carnival delivery and community engagement.
• Youth 84coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth organization part of Manchester Carnival Together (CIC) for youth engagement.
• Manchester's Got TalentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative part of Manchester Carnival Together (CIC) network.
• Community GuardiansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization part of Manchester Carnival Together (CIC).
• TBCs - Aspire ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject initiative led by Julia Burke, part of Manchester Carnival Together (CIC), supporting youth and community development.
• Aim2InspireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity initiative part of Manchester Carnival Together (CIC).
• KysominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization part of Manchester Carnival Together (CIC).
• Team ShellinzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity group part of Manchester Carnival Together (CIC) network.
• Hideaway Youth ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth project managed by Irvine Williams, providing youth engagement and development opportunities linked to the carnival.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bristol St Pauls Carnival: Bristol's Caribbean carnival held in St Pauls. Direct peer — community-led Caribbean cultural festival with parade, sound systems, and cultural programming, operated by a community organisation similar to Manchester Carnival Together (CIC).
• Notting Hill Carnival: Europe's largest Caribbean carnival, held annually in London. Direct peer — same Caribbean cultural festival format, J'ouvert morning, parade, sound systems, and community-led organisation, but at a much larger scale (~1 million attendees) in a different UK city.
• Reading Caribbean Carnival: Reading-based Caribbean carnival organised by a community association. Direct peer — same community Caribbean carnival format with parade, sound systems, and cultural programming, at a comparable smaller scale to Manchester.
• Huddersfield Carnival: Northern UK Caribbean carnival rooted in the local Caribbean community. Direct peer — same community-organised Caribbean carnival format, comparable scale, with J'ouvert equivalents and parade tradition.
• Luton Carnival: One of the UK's largest one-day Caribbean carnivals outside London. Direct peer — Caribbean cultural festival format with parade, sound systems, and masquerade, organised by a community-led structure in a Northern UK city.
• Leeds West Indian Carnival: Long-running Caribbean carnival in Leeds (est. 1967) featuring a parade, stage programme, and cultural village. Direct peer — same Jamaican/Caribbean cultural origin, Northern UK based, community-led organisation with similar funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Manchester Pride: Manchester's leading LGBTQ+ cultural celebration featuring a parade, live performances, and community programming. Broad incumbent — same Manchester geography, similar community-led festival format with cultural heritage focus, but different cultural theme.
• Parklife Festival: Large Manchester music festival at Heaton Park. Broad incumbent — same Manchester geography and summer event timing, but operates as a commercial ticketed music festival rather than a free community cultural celebration.

Regional players

• Africa Oyé: Liverpool-based African and Caribbean music festival held annually in Sefton Park. Regional peer — comparable cultural festival to Manchester Caribbean Carnival, similar audience demographic and community focus, but specifically African/Caribbean music rather than full carnival parade format.
• M Fest Manchester: Manchester-based community festival celebrating Manchester's diverse cultures. Regional peer — same city, similar cultural-heritage focus and community engagement model, but broader multi-cultural remit rather than Caribbean-specific.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mcrcarnival
• Facebookfacebook.com/manchestercaribbeancarnivalofficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/mcrcarnival
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caribbean-carnival-of-manchester

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Caribbean Carnival of Manchester