Night Carnival

Key London roads are closed to traffic for the Festival's spectacular Night Carnival. More than 2,000 musicians, dancers, performers and masqueraders come from across the country and the world with their amazing lanterns, illuminated costumes and fantastic structures - an incredible and un-missable display of carnival creativity.

Thames Festival has commissioned the construction of a 50-metre-long Chinese dragon to lead the Night Carnival. The Tongliang Dragon, or ' Wriggle Dragon' , has 24 sections symbolising good luck throughout the 24 cycles of a year. Twenty-five people are required to manipulate the Tangliang Dragon, which is accompanied by live traditional Chinese music as it processes along the streets.

The Carnival starts at 6pm on Victoria Embankment, travels east crossing the Thames at Blackfriars Bridge, and finishes on Upper Ground near the National Theatre.