Photo taken on Aug. 30, 2020 in London, Britain shows a laptop's screen showing the online content of the Notting Hill Carnival. The Notting Hill Carnival, an annual event featuring sound systems and parade bands that has taken place on streets in west London since the mid-1960s, was held virtually on Saturday as Britain is fighting to check the spread of coronavirus. (Photo by Ray Tang/Xinhua)
LONDON, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Notting Hill Carnival, an annual event featuring sound systems and parade bands that has taken place on streets in west London since the mid-1960s, will be held virtually on Saturday as Britain is fighting to check the spread of coronavirus.
The move is being taken by the carnival organizers in order to avoid people from across Britain and foreign countries being packed in streets like sardines, standing skin to skin amid an increasing risk of a second wave of coronavirus pandemic.
The organizers have called on loyal revellers to stay away this weekend and attend the digital version instead.
After being cancelled in May due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the west London carnival, which is said to be Europe's biggest street party, has shifted online for the first time in its 54-year history.
This year, the event will boast four channels streaming performances from Saturday, kicking off with a live countdown on the big screen at Piccadilly Circus in central London.
The channels are expected to have more than 200 videos showing in excess of 36 hours of original content, according to the organizers.
The carnival is the most important and exciting events in the cultural calendar here, featuring bright floats, soca bands and parades of dancers glide through cramped streets.
Matthew Phillip, executive director of the Notting Hill Carnival, said organisers are asking people to enjoy the event "at home safely" and help protect the future of the carnival.
Asked what he would say to anyone planning to come into the area or to anyone with a street party in mind, Phillip said: "We would ask them to respect carnival, respect the community, and also respect the health and wellbeing of the people that have been affected by this pandemic."
Singing sisters the Sundvivas -- Samantha and Nadine Bryant -- are among those who recorded music at Abbey Road Studios.
"Carnival means everything to us," said Nadine, adding, "We've just grown up with Caribbean culture so it's really part of us."
Singer-songwriter Don-E said he was "gutted" about the carnival being cancelled as he has been going to it since the 1980s, but is pleased to be part of the virtual event.
Looking ahead to celebrating at home with his family, he said: "It's going to be a different one this year, totally unexpected. I'm just going to have to adapt this year."
In 2019, more than 1 million people, including people from such countries as Brazil, China, Canada, France, India, Mexico, South Africa and the United States, were reported to have attended the carnival, which has been held since 1966.
Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has also urged everyone who loves the carnival to enjoy the show from home.
"We've all made huge sacrifices to reduce the level of COVID-19 in our city, and it's vital that this bank holiday weekend we continue to play our part in tackling the spread of this deadly virus," he said.
