ST DENYS CARNIVAL & ARTS FESTIVAL

Carnival 23 May, Arts Festival 23-29 May 2026

Blog

  • Thank You Again, St Denys!!!

    We would like to thank the following people and organisations without whom we would not have been able to make the 2026 Carnival possible: Production Management Team:Sonia CottrellMandy BoughtonNat-Tania L. Forbes-BuckJames FosterCllr Lori FosterGill Lewis-LeeAna MotaAyro Mustafa-HolzapfelHelen Trimarco Ransome Music Coordinators (Community Centre, Woodies at the Junction, South Western Arms, St Denys Social Club &…

    Read More

  • Let’s Face the Music and Dance!

    As well as the Community Centre, there will be lots more music and activities happening across St Denys on the 23rd. Current listings are as follows: ⭐️St Denys Community Centre, Priory Road⭐️11:00 Jenni Casey11:30 Tuneless Choir – Solent12:45 Black Kat Boppers13:45 Southampton Ukulele Jam14:30 Angling for Farthings Free workshops & demonstrations:11:00 – 13:00 Acroyoga in…

    Read More

  • Acts of Kindness – at St Denys Carnival

    Join us for a family-friendly drop-in session with John Hansard Gallery on 23 May, 1–3 pm, indoors at St Denys Community Centre. Add your Acts of Kindness to our growing expression of shared ideas and words. Your artistic work could be displayed at the gallery’s Community Takeover Exhibition, featured in an installation devised by book…

    Read More

  • Online Trade Stall Bookings Now Closed

    Online Booking is now closed for stalls at the St Denys Community Centre for St Denys Carnival on Saturday 23rd May 2026. Last-minute cancellations: If you select options marked as ‘Sold Out’ on the form then you will be added to our waiting list for last-minute cancellations. Should you accept, your full pitch fee will…

    Read More

  • Parade Registration Now Open + St Denys Cake-Off Returns!

    We are open for entries to this year’s St Denys Cake-Off, with bakers competing for the most prestigious prize ever seen in the ‘SO17 2’ postcode area. Submissions must be dropped off at the Community Centre on the evening of Friday 22nd May ready for judging, with the winners being announced at the Carnival on…

    Read More

  • Stalls at the Community Centre

    After a brilliant response from traders this year, we are now down to our last handful of tables inside the Community Centre for the Carnival, priced at £20. We are operating a waiting list for gazebo pitches and larger indoor tables so if you are interested but haven’t yet enquired then please fill out a…

    Read More

  • Photography Exhibition to Run Alongside the Festival’s Art Exhibition

    HAVE YOU GOT SKILLS BEHIND A CAMERA? St Denys Carnival 2026 photo exhibition will be themed ‘Our River’ We are looking for local people who would like to add their favourite photo to the exhibition of The River Itchen or communities that live and work on and around it. If you would like your photo…

    Read More

  • Call for Artists

    As part of the Carnival this year we have an arts festival at St Denys Church with the theme of ‘The Itchen’, or just general appreciation of our rivers, from Saturday 23rd to Sunday 31st May. All artists are welcome to apply via the link below 😊 All sizes & media welcome! Please note the…

    Read More

  • We Are Open for Carnival Trader Bookings

    Get your application in soon to avoid disappointment! We are pleased to announce that we are now taking bookings for St Denys Carnival at the St Denys Community Centre on Saturday 23rd May 2026. Opening times are 11:00-15:00. We have spaces suitable for everyone – from small indoor table tops, up to double-sized outdoor plots…

    Read More

  • Introducing St Denys Carnival & Arts Festival 2026

    St Denys Carnival returns for 2026 as the St Denys Carnival & Arts Festival. As well as the return of the highly successful Carnival, St Denys Crew are delighted to announce the addition of the Arts Festival to the Carnival family, running from 22nd -30th May 2026. The Festival of arts and performance will include…

    Read More

Red parrot speaking through a megaphone. The parrot is wearing a high-vis jacket and a pirate hat.
Image Credit: James Foster

We would like to thank the following people and organisations without whom we would not have been able to make the 2026 Carnival possible:

Production Management Team:
Sonia Cottrell
Mandy Boughton
Nat-Tania L. Forbes-Buck
James Foster
Cllr Lori Foster
Gill Lewis-Lee
Ana Mota
Ayro Mustafa-Holzapfel
Helen Trimarco Ransome

Music Coordinators (Community Centre, Woodies at the Junction, South Western Arms, St Denys Social Club & The Dolphin):
Beck Alsford
James Foster
Pete Harvey
Julie Pay
Lucy Rees-Stoner
Christopher Townsend
Helen Trimarco Ransome

Advisors, Volunteers and Other Supporting Activities:
Cllr Katherine J Barbour
Niki Barrett
Jacob Busby
Sue Callinan
Sol Colmley
Katy Cotton
Sarah Dorricott
Natalie Downing
Sarah East
David Emery
Tara Foster
Alice Hare
Dave Harvey
Geoff Holland
Matt Hussey
Emmily Jordan
Steve Kemish
Rapinder Khabda
Daniel Lebourne
Ruth Magennis
Ruth Newell
Wren Nielsen
Julie Pay
Michael Pay
Claire Pickering
James Read
Helen ‘Helz’ Saunt
Cllr John Savage
Amy Sefton-Thake
Southampton Repair Workshop
Bishop Samuel Thomas
Eleanor Van der Hoest
Deb Wilkes
Kelly Willcocks
Janet Willson
Kevin Winman
Plus the numerous other volunteers who turned up on the day to help but left before we could write down their names!

Raffle Prize Donors, including:
Boulder Shack
Compton’s Cocktail Bar
Fit Happens
Limitless Martial Arts
Little Hair Co.
Mango Thai Tapas
SO Roast
Trago Lounge

Graphic Design:
Lori Foster – St Denys Carnival Logo
Lori Foster – ‘Pirate Flag’ Parrot
James Foster – ‘Megaphone’ Parrot
James Foster – Cake-Off web banner
James Foster – Woodies @ the Junction & South Western Arms event web banners
Pete Harvey – Dancing People.

Miscellaneous Event Services & Assistance:
Acute Medical Services
Awaaz FM
Balfour Beatty
Bitterne Park Info
The Dolphin
Friends of St Denys
Graham Day Printing
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary
In Common
The Itchen Sink
John Hansard Gallery
Rachel Jones
Emmily Jordan
KAPS Trade Print
The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Southampton
Music in the City
New Testament Church of God
R Community
Rev. Sera Rumble
SafeTM Traffic Management Services
Southampton City Council Events Department
Southampton Daily Echo
The South Western Arms
South Western Railway
St Denys Church
St Denys Primary School
St Denys Rocks!
St Denys Social Club
Tradeprint
Travis Perkins
Sarah Twist
Woodies at the Junction Inn


Event Photography:
Tori Green
David Parks

Parade Participants, including:
Sue Badcrumble
Bat2K
Karla Buck – St Denys Swans
Maggie Campbell
The Da Silva Family
Drum Beats Baby & Toddler Group
Fit Happens
Front Gardens Plus
Greenpeace Southampton
Guardians of the River Itchen
Carrie Hordle & the Fosters
Kidical Mass
The Parrot
Pirates of the Carib-bear-an
Southampton Stand Up to Racism
St Denys Boat Club
St Denys Social Club
Steamcosies (Southampton Steampunk Society)

All the Incredible Performers:
9 Lives
Acroyoga in Southampton
Angling for Farthings
The Black Kat Boppers
Jenny Casey
Roger Chantler
The Devil’s Damned String Band
The Dolphin Open Mic with Monika & Keith
Theo Dussek Pirate Troubadour
Guillotine Union Boys
Halibut Jackson & the Fish Faces
The Hedgehogs
Dave Lloyd Backbeat Solo
DJ Nite-Rider
Pandora Midnight
The Postmen
Puddleglum
The Red Stags Morris Dancers
Sarah Saville
The Skylarks
SOS Presents
Soul Shoes
Southampton Ukulele Jam
Stephanio
Tuneless Choir – Solent

St Denys Cake-Off Contestants & Donors, including:
Caroline ‘Nanny Carrie’ Hordle
Alice Mason (Winner of 2026 Best Cake – Over 16s Category)
George Tinsley
Diane Vidal

Traders & Stallholders:
Annies Art FX
Board in the City CIC
Cassiopeia Crystal
Decorative Delights
Dotty’s Sweet Treats
The Environment Centre
First Class Learning
Friends of Bitterne Station & Southampton Green Network
Friends of Riverside Park
Friends of St Denys
Glittering the South
Glory Handmade
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Rhu Harris
Help Freddie Barnes Survive Cancer
Homy Handmade
Jane’s Tasty Samoosas
Hayley Jewell Artist UK
Abeer Kayani Textiles
K&J Caribbean Catering
Amanda Lightning
L&T Ices
Mummy A’s Candles & Wax Melts
Nature Comber
Vicky Phillips
Pizza Tomodoro
Pocket Money Toys
Raven’s Nest
The River Side Bistro
Rothwell’s Amusements
Eleanor Ruth Art
S.O.S. Presents
St Denys Activity Group
St Denys Flood Advisory Group
Tasty Sweet Bakes
Triangle Recycled
Unfrogettable Crafts
Yuppie Puppies

Contributors to the Photography and Art Exhibitions, including:

Rachel Jones – Coordination & Live Projections

Last But Not Least:
The Community of St Denys

All the numerous local businesses, organisations and residents that let us put a poster up or leave flyers in their shops

All the traders and guests who attended our fundraising events in the Autumn of 2025

…and of course our long-suffering friends and families!

St Denys Carnival & Arts Festival will return in 2027.

Image Credit: Pete Harvey