Huddersfield Carnival has been cancelled for 2024 – its 40th anniversary year – due to a lack of financial support.

The carnival returned in 2023 after an absence of five years and around 20,000 people attended the parade and a day-long event in Greenhead Park.

However, cuts to local authority budgets meant Kirklees Council was unable to provide any funding for this year’s event.

An appeal for sponsorship from companies and other organisations failed to bring in funds towards the estimated £100,000 cost of staging the event.

Huddersfield Carnival Management Committee, a sub-group of Huddersfield African Caribbean Cultural Trust (HACCT), said it was disappointed to announce that the event wouldn’t go ahead this year.

In a statement the committee said: “The team were so proud of the hugely successful event in 2023, however this year has been significantly challenging.

“As communicated to you all, there has been no support from the council given the current financial pressures.

“Despite our best efforts contacting many local and national companies and businesses we only secured funds from one local organisation.

“We were unable to make a profitable income from carnival 2023 due to restrictions on the Arts Council England funding received. Monies made from the bar and fairground went to the council as reimbursement towards their financial support.”

 

 

The committee had also reached out to the local community asking for a £5 donation to help “keep the vibe alive”, however sufficient funds were not forthcoming.

The committee added: “We wish to say a massive ‘thank you’ to those who did donate and please be reassured that those funds will go towards Carnival 2025.

“We also thank those who have offered to do sponsored events and hope you will still do so in support of 2025. An additional thanks to those individuals and organisations who have shared our fundraiser, it is appreciated.

“The CMC team are going to take a much needed but very short break before re-grouping to start planning for next year.

“Additionally, the HACCT trustees will be undertaking work to strengthen the organisation and prepare to implement our business plan for 2025.

“As always we welcome new CMC volunteers and HACCT trustees with time and fresh ideas to join the organisation.

“Please continue to share our fundraiser, donate when you can and support our future fundraising events.”

The fundraiser can be found HERE 

 

What’s On in Huddersfield in May 2024 with concerts, shows, music, street food and great vibes