This is the big one. The end of summer, the biggest party weekend of the year, the last golden kiss before the woolly cuddles and velvet embraces. In London (as you’ll definitely know if you live there) it’s Notting Hill Carnival, the largest Caribbean carnival in Europe. Get down for floats, carnival bands including Bajan Revellers, D Riddim Tribe, South Connections, pan bands, the parade (Monday) delicious food and much-loved soundsystems playing samba, latin jazz, hip hop, drum n bass, garage, whatever DJs feel like on every corner around that area of West London. Figure where to meet, leave your phone at home (there's no signal anyway) and spend the day following the crowds before heading to whatever afterparty you stumble upon first.
and, as with carnival - fingers crossed for nice weather. The Garden Party 3 w Huxley, Mano Le Tough @ The Faversham, Leeds
*Sun Aug 24 *
The Faversham plans to close it's summer season with a bang at the final Garden Party of 2014. Micheal Dodman aka Huxley, Irish electronic producer Mano Le Tough, multi-genre repping Hot Creations member Richy Ahmed and 'DJ's DJ' Ryan Elliot all play alongside residents. It goes from 12pm - 4am so, for the inevitable slump, be sure to check out the 'mouth-watering food and an array of cocktails' out in the the Leeds sunshine.
READ MORE: Here's Where To Get The Best Milkshakes With Booze This Country Has On Offer
Deviation Carnival Special @ Paradise, London Boom F’Real @ Dance Tunnel, London Carnifest @ The Prince Bonapartes
*Mon Aug 25 *
What happens when carnival is over, and you don't care that you have work the next day? These parties. Whether it's another chance to enjoy Deviation (Zinc, Newham Generals, Skepta, Martelo, Radi Dadi & surprise guests) at a West London location or the second part of an already going afterparty (The Prince Bonaparte) or even a completely different night (footwork, bass music @ Dane Tunnel) there are plenty of reasons to take Tuesday off too.
Fri Aug 22
Kurv w Jimmy Edgar, Mosca, Kassem Mosse @ Egg London
XOYO 2nd Birthday w Oneman, Cashmere Cat, Ryan Hemsworth @ XOYO, London
Moon Boots @ The Nest, London
Warm Up presents Microtrauma @ Crucifix Lane, London
Trouble Vision Carnival Warm Up w/ Funkineven, Amir Alexander @ Corsica Studios, London
Darroom w Giegling @ Dance Tunnel, London
Logos, Flirta D, Sudanim @ Plan B, London
555-5555 w/ Appleblim, Prayer @ Power Lunches, London
Gin & Juice @ Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes, London
Heavenly Social vs The Dance OFF @ The Social, London
Get Down @ The Book Club, London
Formula Records Carnival Warm Up @ Birthdays, London
Amp Presents Carnival Warm Up @ Basement, London
South Place presents Nic Tasker @ South Place Hotel, London
Leeds Festival @ Bramham Park, Leeds
Shindig presents Eric Prydz @ Hoults Yard, Newcastle
Danny Tenaglia @ Sankeys, Manchester
Micron Bank Hol @ Joshua Brooks, Manchester
Justin Martin @ The Ritz, Manchester
Perc, Truss @ Studio 24, Edinburgh
Horse Meat Disco @ Sub Club, Glasgow
In Deep: Auntie Flo & Esa’s Highlife Sun Ritual @ Sneaky Pete’s Edinburgh
RBMA w Midland, Throwing Snow @ The Art School, Glasgow
Drum&Bass Arena @ Motion, Bristol
Donuts x Rough Draft w Charlie Bones @ The Love Inn, Bristol
**Sat Aug 23 **
South West Four Day 1 @ Clapham Common, London
London Bass Music Festival @ Coronet Theatre, London
Ghostly International W Matthew Dear @ Studio Spaces, London
South West More @ Electric Brixton, London Troupe @ Egg London
OSM All Day / All Night w Deetron, Paul Woolford, Dense & PIka, Leon Vynehall @ Oval Space, London
Martinez Brothers @ Fabric, London Jackmaster @ XOYO, London
House Of Disco Rooftop Party @ Dalston Roof Park, London
Livin Proof x Work It Carnival Bank Holiday Special @ Village Underground, London
Hot Wuk Truck Party @ KOKO, London
Number 90 presents Phonica Records w Derrick Carter, @ Number 90, London
Hot Cakes ft Krafty Kuts @ Brixton Jamm, London
Orlando Boom @ Queen Of Hoxton, London
Bussey Building 7 year Anniversary @ Bussey Building, London
Pineapple Jam Carnival Afterparty @ Canavan’s Pool Club, London
Tasker & Jon Rust @ Oslo, London
Outdoor Warehouse Party @ Lab11, Birmingham
Break Thru Returns to Custard Factory @ Alfie Birds, Birmingham SVR @ Stealth, Nottingham
Creamfields @ Creamfields
Tunnyl Terrace Party @ The Telegraph, Newcastle
Banana Hill Bank Hol @ The Harley, Sheffield
Randomer @ The Art School, Glasgow
Claude Vonstroke @ The Liquid Room, Edinburgh
Telford @ Sub Club, Glasgow
Drumtalk @ Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
Notsossilent @ La Cheetah Club, Glasgow
Jamie Jones @ Halo, Bournemouth
David Morales @ The Source, Brighton
Gilles Peterson @ Concorde 2, Brighton
***Sun Aug 24 ** *
Swamp 81 Carnival Special @ Heaven, London
Secretsundaze w DJ Koze, Anthony Shakir @ Various Venues, London
Amine Edge @ Ministry Of Sound, London
Bank Holiday BBQ @ The Nest, London
Wetoutself! Bank Hol special @ fabric, London
Stevie Wonderland Afterparty @ The Good Ship, London
XOYO Loves Eton Messy Carnival Special @ Paradise, London
South Place presents Dixon Avenue Basement Jams @ Madison Rooftop, London
Your Mums House @ XOYO, London
Reggae Roast Carnival @ 100 Club, London
Trevor Nelson Carnival After Party @ Fire, London
Carnival After Party w Totem Bass @ Tipsy, London
Boxfresh Presents Rinse 20 @ Notting Hill Carnival, London
A Summer In Outer Space @ Queen Of Hoxton, London
Hot Caribbean Carnival @ O2 Academy Islington, London
Deadmau5 & Eric Prydz @ Electric Brixton, London
Life’s A Beach @ O2 Academy Islington, London
Hipster’s Don’t Dance @ Birthdays, London
Sound Clash Culture Afterparty @ Fox and Firkin, London
Charlie Sloth the Return @ Tru, London
Black Butter Records @ Notting Hill Arts Club, London
Rough Trade Reggae Jukebox @ Cow Pub, London
Day & Night @ Gibb St Warehouse, Birmingham
Below Bank Holiday Special @ Rainbow, Birmingham
Shindig @ Hoults Yard, Newcastle
Mint Festival @ Mint Warehouse, Manchester
Claude Vonstroke @ Vox, Leeds
Get Loose @ TAW, Thornaby
Midland, Krystal Klear @ South, Manchester
No Artificial Colours @ Gorilla, Manchester
Loco Dice @ Liquid Room, Edinburgh
Bobby Tank @ Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
Nic Fancuilli @ Source Bar, Brighton
Back To Love Festival All Dayer @ The Island, Reading
Packed Lunch @ The Winter Gardens, Brighton
Steffi @ Gwdihw, Cardiff
Past Present Future @ Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.