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Last year's Notting Hill Carnival passed largely without a hitch, and we expect the same for the upcoming festivities.
While this event gets under way, we bring you the pictorial highlights of 2012.
Enjoy!
Are you going to this year's carnival? Send your snaps #nottinghill to ukpicturedesk@huffingtonpost.com
Notting Hill Carnival 2012
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(01 of30)
Performers in costume prepare take part in the Notting Hill Carnival, London. (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(02 of30)
The Paraiso School of Samba prepare take part in the Notting Hill Carnival, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday August 27, 2012. See PA story SOCIAL Carnival. Photo credit should read: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(03 of30)
The Paraiso School of Samba take part in the Notting Hill Carnival, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday August 27, 2012. See PA story SOCIAL Carnival. Photo credit should read: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(04 of30)
The Paraiso School of Samba take part in the Notting Hill Carnival, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday August 27, 2012. See PA story SOCIAL Carnival. Photo credit should read: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(05 of30)
The Paraiso School of Samba take part in the Notting Hill Carnival, London. (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations Take Place(06 of30)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: A member of the Paraiso School of Samba checks her costume before performing at the Notting Hill Carnival on August 27, 2012 in London, England. The annual 2-day carnival, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and is expected to attract around 1 million revellers, has taken place every August Bank Holiday since 1966. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations Take Place(07 of30)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Members of the Paraiso School of Samba prepare to perform at the Notting Hill Carnival on August 27, 2012 in London, England. The annual 2-day carnival, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and is expected to attract around 1 million revellers, has taken place every August Bank Holiday since 1966. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations Take Place(08 of30)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: A member of the Paraiso School of Samba helps adjust a fellow performer's costume before dancing in the Notting Hill Carnival on August 27, 2012 in London, England. The annual 2-day carnival, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and is expected to attract around 1 million revellers, has taken place every August Bank Holiday since 1966. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations Take Place(09 of30)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: A member of the Paraiso School of Samba takes a photograph before performing at the Notting Hill Carnival on August 27, 2012 in London, England. The annual 2-day carnival, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and is expected to attract around 1 million revellers, has taken place every August Bank Holiday since 1966. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations Take Place(10 of30)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: The 'Queen' on the Paraiso School of Samba's float prepares to perform at the Notting Hill Carnival on August 27, 2012 in London, England. The annual 2-day carnival, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and is expected to attract around 1 million revellers, has taken place every August Bank Holiday since 1966. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations Take Place(11 of30)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Members of the Paraiso School of Samba checks their costume before performing at the Notting Hill Carnival on August 27, 2012 in London, England. The annual 2-day carnival, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and is expected to attract around 1 million revellers, has taken place every August Bank Holiday since 1966. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations Take Place(12 of30)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Members of the Paraiso School of Samba prepare to perform at the Notting Hill Carnival on August 27, 2012 in London, England. The annual 2-day carnival, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and is expected to attract around 1 million revellers, has taken place every August Bank Holiday since 1966. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(13 of30)
Dancers take part in the Notting Hill Carnival in west London. (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(14 of30)
Police Sergeant Siobhan Elliot dances with revellers at the Notting Hill Carnival in west London. (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(15 of30)
One of the dances takes part in the Notting Hill Carnival in west London. (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(16 of30)
One of the dances with a police officer takes part in the Notting Hill Carnival in west London. (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(17 of30)
A policeman with paint on his face at the Notting Hill Carnival in west London. (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(18 of30)
Police Sergeant Siobhan Elliot dances with revellers at the Notting Hill Carnival in west London. (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(19 of30)
Police with performers during the Notting Hill Carnival, London. (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(20 of30)
The Paraiso School of Samba prepare take part in the Notting Hill Carnival, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday August 27, 2012. See PA story SOCIAL Carnival. Photo credit should read: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(21 of30)
Dancers take part in the Notting Hill Carnival in west London. (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(22 of30)
One of the dances takes part in the Notting Hill Carnival in west London. (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(23 of30)
One of the dances takes part in the Notting Hill Carnival in west London. (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(24 of30)
Performers during the Notting Hill Carnival, London. (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Notting Hill Carnival 2012(25 of30)
Performers during the Notting Hill Carnival, London. (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations Take Place(26 of30)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Drummers perform at the Notting Hill Carnival on August 27, 2012 in London, England. The annual 2-day carnival, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and is expected to attract around 1 million revellers, has taken place every August Bank Holiday since 1966. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations Take Place(27 of30)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Revellers perform at the Notting Hill Carnival on August 27, 2012 in London, England. The annual 2-day carnival, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and is expected to attract around 1 million revellers, has taken place every August Bank Holiday since 1966. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations Take Place(28 of30)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Revellers perform at the Notting Hill Carnival on August 27, 2012 in London, England. The annual 2-day carnival, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and is expected to attract around 1 million revellers, has taken place every August Bank Holiday since 1966. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations Take Place(29 of30)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe (L) chats with a police officer at the Notting Hill Carnival on August 27, 2012 in London, England. The annual 2-day carnival, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and is expected to attract around 1 million revellers, has taken place every August Bank Holiday since 1966. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
The Annual Notting Hill Carnival Celebrations Take Place(30 of30)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Revellers perform at the Notting Hill Carnival on August 27, 2012 in London, England. The annual 2-day carnival, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and is expected to attract around 1 million revellers, has taken place every August Bank Holiday since 1966. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)