Luton's one day carnival bonanza which happens once a year is set to arrive next Monday. Back in the day i used to love going to the carnival but now it just seems really strange. I don't really know what it is...maybe it's something to do with age? Who knows! But i think the last time i went to the carnival was back in 2004. The carnival back then used to travel nearly all around Luton. They kept the procession quite small this time around and restricted it to town centre. The Luton carnival which is supposed to be the biggest one day carnival in Europe has had a bit of a bad reputation in the past. It has been a breeding ground for trouble where gangs in Luton and the surrounding areas, use it as a time to spark off petty fights. Kamran Shezad was an unfortunate victim in 2005 where he was stabbed during gang violence which erupted in Wardown Park between black and Asian youths.
Things have become much more safer now thanks to the constant police presence during the carnival. There are more people involved in the carnival than ever before now , thanks to the UK Carnival Arts Festival which opened up last year next to the University of Bedfordshire. It's a centre dedicated in supporting agendas for neighbourhood renewal and regeneration, tourism development, arts in education, business development and community cohesion. Luton needs more thing like these to wipe off the bad reputation which has been created over the years.
