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What better way to celebrate a Caribbean carnival  than with a bit of Caribbean  weather?

And the 29th annual Huddersfield Carnival on Saturday was  blessed with non-stop sunshine.

The event, which celebrates the  best of African-Caribbean arts and  culture, began at the Hudawi  Centre at 1pm.

Thousands of spectators lined  the streets to watch the Mas Band  Parade as it made its way through  Huddersfield town centre. Some  had travelled from as far as London to join in the fun.

The parade comprised several  floats carrying massive – and deafening – sound systems, DJs and  MCs.

The floats were followed by dancers from Huddersfield, as well as  some from Leeds, Preston and  London, who dazzled in their spectacularly colourful costumes.

The parade was followed by a  huge party in Greenhead Park  which included more dance displays, music and traditional Caribbean food.

The previous three parties had  taken place in Huddersfield town  centre, but this year’s event made a  welcome return to the park.

This year’s carnival included the  return of a midnight J’ouvert for a  fifth year.

J’ouvert (a contraction of the  French ‘jour overt’, meaning daybreak) is an old African-Caribbean  tradition where participants –  sometimes covered in paint,  chocolate, mud or white powder –  dance through the streets from  midnight until sunrise.

Watching the parade were carnival regulars Kirsty Bywater and  Elise Belafonte, of Dalton and  Kirsty’s cousin, Lisa Wedge, from  Holmfirth.

Lisa said: “It was good. There  was certainly a lot of work put into  it.

“The weather was lousy last year  but this year it was much better.

“The carnival never arrives on  time but it’s always worth waiting  for.”

Michael and Mutsa Boddison,  of Brackenhall, also enjoyed the  parade but felt it could have been  longer.

Mr Boddison said: “It was  maybe a bit shorter than usual but  the costumes were good.

“We’ve been lots of times before  and with the weather I think they  picked a good day for it.”

Next year’s carnival – the 30th  anniversary – is expected to  include a Carnival Royale Show  where contestants compete for the  carnival crown and the right to  lead the parade.