Website directory of major events, exhibitions, festivals, shows, parades and carnivals in London.

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Carnaval del Pueblo - The largest Latin American Festival in the UK features the very best in Latin American music, held in Burgess Park, SE5 in August. With artists flown in from South America, this massive event is attended by over 60,000 people.

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City of London Festival - The City of London Festival held in June and July is a celebration of music, art, architecture and film. From world music to jazz, from classical to contemporary, the festival promotes a wide range of music styles performed by some of the world's leading artists.

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London Art Fair - Held each year in January at the Business Design Centre, Islington. Provides the opportunity to see and buy the best in modern and contemporary British art. Comprising 100 galleries and over 1,500 artists, works on display are priced between £100 and £500,000. The fair also offers a stimulating series of events, talks and discussions.

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London Boat Show - The London Boat show is held in January each year at ExCel in London's Docklands. The show brings you the latest in design and innovation from a huge variety of marine suppliers and manufactuers from around the world.

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London Marathon - The first London Marathon took place in 1981 and currently around 32,000 runners take part in the annual event held in April. The 26.2 mile race start at Greenwich Park and finishes in The Mall. The website provides event information, history, charity details, merchandise, past results, news articles and registration details.

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London Parade - The greatest street festival in Europe on New Years Day featuring more than 10,000 performers, representing over a dozen countries worldwide, assemble in the heart of London bringing music, merriment and laughter to the waiting crowds. The Parade starts as Big Ben strikes 12 Noon on New Year's Day in Parliament Square and finishes on Piccadilly, at Berkeley Street approximately 3pm.

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Lord Mayor's Show - In 1215, when King John granted a Charter allowing the City's citizens to elect their own mayor, the Lord Mayor's Show came into being. The Charter stipulated that the new Mayor must be presented to the Sovereign for approval and to swear fealty to the Crown, so each year the newly elected Mayor had to travel from the City to Westminster to pledge allegiance. Today the Lord Mayor's Show winds through nearly 800 years of London's history with a wonderful mixture of past, present and future with today's businesses, Livery Companies, charities, Her Majesty's Forces, the City Police and Londoners from all walks of life coming together to enjoy a splendid celebration of the City's tradition and future. The procession takes place annually on the second Saturday in November, watched by half a million people with approximately 5,500 participants, 2,000 military personnel, 200 horses, 220 motor vehicles, 65 floats, 20 marching bands, 22 carriages and the glorious State Coach.

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Notting Hill Carnival - The Notting Hill Carnival is an explosion of fun, food and culture which began back in 1964. Now Europe's largest street festival, every August bank holiday weekend up to 2 million revellers pass through the streets of west London. The website provides background information to the event.

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Rise Festival - London United - The Rise festival, formerly the respect festival, is an annual open-air free event. Rise is for all Londoners, celebrating our great multicultural city and making a stand against racism. The day-long festival features rock, pop and world music, as well as a range of family entertainment. Following the London bombings the Rise festival was renamed London United.

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SouthWestFest - Events in the Pimlico and SW1 area, which culminate in a one-day festival finale in July.

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Spitalfields Festival - Summer and Winter festivals packed full of great concerts with works by well-known and neglected composers, the festival also provides walks, talks and a strong education and community programme. Christ Church Spitalfields.

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St Patrick's Day - London’s Irish Community is the largest minority group in London with approximately 400,000 people of Irish descent. This website provides details of festivals and events on 17th March, or the weekends either side to celebrate St Patricks Day.

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Streatham Festival - The Streatham Festival aims to bring a wide range of arts and cultural activities to SW16 and SW2 for a whole week each year ­promoting unity in diversity by celebrating difference. From family fun days to Shakespeare in the park, to poetry, film, art, comedy and music events.

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The Great River Race - The race is a 22 mile course down the Thames from Ham to the Isle of Dogs, with the finish line opposite the Cutty Sark at Greenwich. The Great River Race attracts both the true racer and the leisure rower with usually around 300 boats taking part, carrying approximately 2,000 competitors.

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The Mayor's Thames Festival - A free event held over a weekend in September celebrating the Thames. With street arts, events and animations, it's probably the longest street festival in Europe. On and around the Thames, South Bank, and Bankside, with events from the London Eye to London Bridge station. A firework finale takes place on the Sunday at 9.30 pm between Waterloo and Blackfriars Bridges.

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