Billed by the organisers as “Abuletic King, performer”
Colchester Carnival 2026
Saturday 18 July 2026Colchester city centre and Lower Castle Park
Once a year Colchester walks its whole diversity through the city centre. In 2026 the drums of Abuletic walked with it.
The carnival is organised by the Colchester Diverse Communities Network: a parade of 28 communities from Sir Isaac’s Walk through Head Street and the High Street, then an afternoon of music, dance and food in Lower Castle Park.
The Abuletic King led a line of talking drums and dùndún through the crowds, with Colchester Life in the UK, stopping to let children touch the drums and play.
12:00
Sir Isaac's Walk
The communities gather
Drums are tuned and straps tightened while the city’s communities find their places in the line.
12:45
High Street
The parade begins
Through the centre of the city, past the shops and the crowds on the pavements. The drums talk, the crowd answers.
2pm
Lower Castle Park
On the park
The parade becomes a festival: stages, food from around the world and the drummers among the tents.
In the Colchester Gazette
Carnival brings city together for show
“It is a means of bringing us together so we connect.”
Adeniyi Morolahun, the Abuletic King, to Daniel Rees
Read the reportThrough the old stone arch at the end of the day
7:30pm
The day in 51 photographs.
- Date
- Saturday 18 July 2026, 12pm to 7:30pm
- Route
- Sir Isaac’s Walk to Lower Castle Park, Colchester
- Organiser
- Colchester Diverse Communities Network
- Entry
- Free
The flyer
The organiser’s flyer, naming the Abuletic King