Roots: Rotherham Street Carnival Returns in March 2025!

Expect a lively carnival procession through the Rotherham Town Centre on 29th March, accompanied by lively music, vibrant puppets and performances from local groups and organisations.

Children’s Capital of Culture inspires this year’s parade as they celebrate the world’s first festival year in 2025. There will be a showcase of the talent and creativity of our borough’s young people.

A highlight of the event will be Jitterbug, a giant interactive inflatable structure that will arrive at All Saints’ Square, created and produced by Trigger. Originally commissioned by The Cultural Programme, University of Oxford for KAFKA24, a celebration of the global legacy of author Franz Kafka. The colossal Jitterbug entices its audience inside, inviting attendees to truly immerse themselves in the bizarre, hosting creative workshops and opportunities to make artworks and decorations to showcase in the parade.

The parade begins at 3pm, outside Rotherham Minster and weaves through the town centre. Reign, the large-scale puppet created with young people and Emergency Exit Arts for last year’s festival, will return alongside brand-new banners by Children’s Capital of Culture, artworks by the community, musical performances, Rotherham BMX, Nova City, Rotherham Youth Choir and much more.

From 11am, join the celebrations in Minster Gardens as the atmosphere builds before the parade. There you'll find:

• walkabout street entertainers Treemendous, Hope the Hedgehog, and B-Boys
• a new inflatable artwork
• the Gather workshop, by Becky Long-Smith
• a stage filled with performances from young bands and youth groups

So come along! Enjoy free creative workshops, live music, walkabout entertainers, dance, drama, street food, stalls and a breathtaking parade across Rotherham Town Centre on 29th March 2025 from 11am, parade begins at 3pm.

The event ends at 4pm.

Brought to you by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and Children’s Capital of Culture. Supported with funding from UK Shared Prosperity Fund, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.