Carnival Let's Celebrate

# Can't wait to celebrate It's great

# To celebrate

# Can't wait to celebrate

# It's great

# To celebrate! #

Can't quite remember... Oh! Hello!

I'm Thomas, Thomas Ticker,

and I just love festivals and celebrations and parties.

Everyone says that I make parties go with a bang.

Ooh-hoo! I've got a brilliant celebration to show you today,

it's called carnival.

Ah!

And if you like colourful costumes and dancing,

then this one is for you.

Ooh! And I've got a friend called Myriam who can tell us all about it!

Are you ready?

Ah-ha!

Hi, I'm Myriam. I'm getting ready for carnival!

It's a huge street party where thousands and thousands of people

come to have fun.

And it happens right outside my flat, here in London.

Today, I'm very excited -

it's time for everyone to come and get things ready for the carnival.

'It's like a big party, there's loads going on!

'All my friends are here too!'

This is where we have a barbeque, everyone's in a party mood!

My family always have barbeques on carnival, yummy!

LAUGHTER

Those drums are called steel pans, I like the noises they make.

It's not just a party, there are lots of things to do!

There's a costume parade to help us choose our costume,

that's why everyone's getting ready.

Everyone's putting on lovely colourful make-up.

My friend Brittany is going to be showing one of the costumes too!

There'll be dancing, so I'm joining in a dance class.

'We won't be in these clothes, it's time to choose costumes.

'Carnival costumes are always really bright!

'There are so many to choose from.

'That one is amazing!

'And I like that one too!

'I like the green one, I think I might wear that for the carnival.

'I've been busy making my costume for weeks now.

'It's nearly ready!'

I'm painting my headpiece, I'm going to wear it on carnival!

'Grown-ups are helping too -

'sticking...

'and sewing.'

Wow! This is one of the costumes that I'm going to wear!

'My friends and I are going to look good in this material.'

Surprise!

After the carnival, we're having a party outside our balcony!

We're having barbeque jerk chicken, some coleslaw, potato salad

and some plantains.

Tell me when to stop, please.

I will.

It's very, very fun.

This is like how we make salad.

It is, but this is coleslaw - cabbages and carrots mixed together.

Mix it up, Myriam, let me see.

# Stir it up

# Little darling

# Stir it up... #

That's it now, Myriam, all done. Well done, you!

You've made coleslaw!

What we going to be doing now, Mum?

We're doing the jerk and barbeque chicken,

that barbeque's going to be nice.

Listening to the music and shakey-shakey!

-You like barbeque chicken?

-Yes, Mum.

Mix it up! Mix it up!

-Give it the flavour, Myriam!

-Yes, I am, Mum. Don't worry.

Jerk chicken is one of my favourite Afro-Caribbean foods!

Brittany's going to love this, I can't wait to see her face.

We're also making potato salad...

..and fried plantains!

Do you see how I'm chopping it?

The plantain skin looks the same as the skin of the banana, doesn't it?

I know, it belongs to the same family as the banana.

There! All the food is ready

and I can't wait to party with my friends and family at the carnival.

Boo!

Ha! Only me!

-TUMMY GRUMBLES

-Ah, oh!

I'm so hungry looking at that lovely food.

I hope Myriam's friends like it.

Now! People play some brilliant music at carnival time.

Would you like to hear some?

# Celebrate! #

# It's great to celebrate! #

Steel pans. Aren't they pan-tastic?!

I've made some of my own.

That sounds pretty good. I might need a bit of practice.

I'm sure Myriam's had lots of practice for the big carnival day.

I'm sure she's really excited. Let's find out!

It's carnival! I woke up really early this morning.

I've done my hair specially. I can't wait for carnival!

Come on!

'The first thing I'm going to do is put my make-up on.

'Everyone is SO busy.'

I've done my make-up, it's time for costume. Come on!

I've got to get my armbands on now.

I've got one more bit to go on and then I'm ready to hit the road.

I'm ALL done!

It's time for us to line up in our groups, before we join the parade.

Everyone's getting REALLY excited!

I'm ready! I'm all ready for carnival!

We're going to dance around the street for HOURS!

Thousands of people have come to watch.

There I am!

Check out my moves!

Everyone is dancing to the music.

It's a really, really long line.

Look at all the costumes.

They're so colourful.

Some of them are really tall.

And some are really small.

Look, there's a teacup costume!

Everyone's having so much fun!

At carnival, there's a competition to see who has the best costume.

It's nearly our turn to dance in front of the judges.

Phew! That was nerve-wracking.

I think we impressed them, though.

Lots of people are enjoying all sorts of food.

We get to drink and eat along the way cos we're ALWAYS dancing!

WHISTLE BLOWS

It's barbeque time!

Lots of my family and friends are here.

# Ole, ole, ole, ole. #

There's the jerk chicken I prepared especially for Brittany.

She seems to like it.

# Feelin' hot, hot, hot! #

And so does everyone else.

# Feelin' hot, hot, hot! #

Delicious!

Now it's time for MORE dancing!

It's great to celebrate!

TOOT!

Hoo-hoo! Thanks, Myriam.

Didn't that look fun? Some of those costumes were amazing!

But, of course, I've got a very special costume of my own.

# Can't wait to celebrate!

# It's great to celebrate

# Can't wait to celebrate

# It's great to celebrate

# Can't wait to celebrate

# It's great to celebrate

# Can't wait to celebrate

# It's great to celebrate

# We're so excited cos it's going to be

# A party time for all our friends and family

# We're getting ready We'll have so much fun

# So come and join in, everyone

# Cos it's time for us to celebrate

# Now it's time for us to celebrate

# Cos today is such a special day

# It's great to celebrate

# It's time for you and me

# To celebrate

# Celebrate

# So jump to your feet and dance with us

# Clap your hands and cheer

# Cos it's time for us to celebrate

# Now it's time for us to celebrate

# Cos today is such a special day

# And it's time for you and me

# To celebrate

# Time for us to celebrate

# It's great to celebrate

# It's time for you and me

# It's great to celebrate! #