ST DENYS CARNIVAL & ARTS FESTIVAL

Carnival 23 May, Arts Festival 23-29 May 2026

Blog

  • Autumn & Winter Update

    It’s that time of year when the nights seem to start earlier and the residents of St Denys start to consider whether it really is too early to switch the heating on, after all. Time to sit back with a cup of hot tea or – dare we say it – a pumpkin spiced latte…

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  • Thank You St Denys!!!

    We would like to thank the following people and organisations without whom we would not have been able to make the 2025 Carnival possible: Production Management Team:Nat-Tania L. Forbes-BuckJames FosterLori FosterGill Lewis-LeeAna MotaAyro Mustafa-HolzapfelHelen Trimarco RansomeChristopher Townsend Music Coordinators (Community Centre, Woodies at the Junction, South Western Arms & The Dolphin):Beck AlsfordPete HarveyLucy Rees-StonerChristopher Townsend…

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  • Last-Minute Parade & Cake-Off Registrations

    There is still time to register to participate in the parade or to enter home-baked cakes into the St Denys Cake-Off but please note that the form responses will not be monitored after 6pm on Sunday 25th May; therefore you may not receive a response after this time. We will put up instructions on the…

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  • Tug of War Cancelled

    Sadly we have had to cancel the planned Tug of War competition on 26th May due to unexpected circumstances. Sorry to ‘string’ you along. Hopefully if we all pull together, the contest will make a reappearance at a future event here in St Denys so you will be able to rope in a few of…

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  • Exhibition Deadline – 10th May 2025

    Reminder – this coming Saturday 10th May is the last chance to submit your photos, videos, memorabilia or written memories of carnivals and other historic events & celebrations in St Denys for our forthcoming exhibition at St Denys Church! Email files to us at stdenys.crew@outlook.com, or if you have hard copies that need scanning then…

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  • Carnival Fundraising – Help Us to Cover Costs

    We are able to receive online donations, using the St Denys Crew Pool on Collctiv. To donate, simply click here or scan the QR code at our venues on the day. There will also be collection tins at the Community Centre for those who prefer to donate cash on the day. All donations will help…

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  • Carnival Mask-Making Workshops

    To help people get ready for the Carnival, we are pleased to launch two free mask-making workshops in May: Nature Theme Mask making WorkshopFor St Denys CarnivalMay 7th & 14thCommunity Centre6-8pm All ages welcome, children to be supervised. We’ll play with making basic head bands on to which we will staple,stick, paint, tissue shapes and…

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  • Trader Stalls Selling Fast!

    We have had a great response from local crafters and food sellers so we have sold out of the 6′ tables. We still have some indoor 4′ tables from £20 and outdoor gazebo pitches left from £50 so if you haven’t already applied, please register by the end of April so that we have time…

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  • CRAFT MARKET STALLS NOW AVAILABLE

    Good news for local traders and crafters, the stalls for St Denys Carnival can now be booked for the low starting price of just £20. If you’re a caterer, crafter, gift maker, wellbeing expert, local group, bric-a-brac specialist, jeweller, vintage clothing trader, toy seller or book store – grab a stall whilst they’re still available…

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  • Pull the Other One!

    St Denys Carnival is delighted to announce that a Tug of War contest will form part of the carnival celebrations at the Community Centre after the main procession. If you fancy putting together a team and challenging your neighbours, drinking buddies, work colleagues, sports teams, you just need to “rope in” eight people and sign…

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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