The annual Notting Hill Carnival is coming up very soon, and many of you will be getting ready to head to the two-day festival in west London.
Around one million people attend the carnival of Caribbean culture annually, with the event getting bigger and better every year.
This year the carnival will take place over Sunday August 28 and Monday August 29, the August Bank Holiday. The Sunday will be a family day, where the Monday will be the main attraction for adults.
And while the carnival is fun and exciting, and a brilliant way of experiencing Caribbean culture and food, it is a very large event, and therefore safety is important when attending the festival.
But don't worry, we have some top safety tips which you can follow to make sure the event runs smoothly for you.
Top safety tips for heading to Notting Hill Carnival
-
Don't wear expensive or treasured jewellery as they may be stolen in the crowd; keep other essential valuables safely in a zipped bag.
-
Meet your friends and family beforehand and agree on a location to keep meeting up. The crowds are so huge, you may become lost in a sea of people!
-
Make sure you know how you are getting home before you arrive .
-
Drink plenty of water with your rum punch.
-
Go with the flow of the crowd and try to keep on the fringes of the crowd when you can.
-
Get some money out beforehand and keep it somewhere safe. Cash machines may be busy on the parade days.
-
Know your way around the route, or print off a route map .
-
Be careful if you're hosting a barbecue! London Fire Brigade said: "If you are having a barbecue during Carnival, please make sure you place it on a flat surface on level ground so it does not tip over. Never use petrol or paraffin to light it. Also make sure you keep the barbecue away from fences, sheds or garden furniture. If fire breaks out, warn other people and get out and stay out. Call the fire brigade by dialling 999."
-
If you're not brilliant with crowds, head to the Carnival on Sunday. Sunday is children's day and tends to be quieter.
-
There will be lots of police patrolling the area over the two days. If you're suspicious or in doubt of anything, let them know.
And the most important tip of all... Have fun!
Notting Hill Carnival is a brilliant excuse to dance, eat and celebrate, so get your friends together and enjoy yourself.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL
For details of what's going on and when during the Carnival, check out our guide .
