On an average day, you can expect to bump into a few colourful characters during a stroll down Oxford's Cowley Road, writes Monica Sloan.

On June 1, expect them in their thousands.

East Oxford is about to show what you can create with a surge of community spirit and £50,000, at the third Cowley Road Carnival.

Last year's parade makes its way along Cowley Road

The multi-coloured, multi-cultural event -- part of the city council's Fun in the Parks season backed by the Oxford Mail -- is fast becoming Oxford's answer to Notting Hill, with more than 20,000 visitors expected this year.

The rainbow-themed procession, with 500 costumed dancers, musicians, clowns, schoolchildren and street entertainers, has grown to more than five times the size it was last year.

Live bands will perform throughout the day on two stages, while young people are well catered-for with mobile skate ramps.

No-one has been left out, with people of all ages from every ethnic and religious group in the community cheerfully rolling up their sleeves and offering their time and talents.

Those involved say they have all learned a new talent or gained an understanding of different cultures -- things they can keep long after the banners and balloons have been taken down.

NAsser Senankya, 10, learns to spin plates from Robbo the clown and Jet Set Jackie

For Richard Jones, a clown from Electric Cabaret, it is his experiences holding circus workshops for schoolchildren and young refugees from Asylum Welcome, based in Cowley Road, which will stay with him.

"When I did a workshop with the children from Asylum Welcome, I didn't know what to expect. I was imagining all sorts of difficulties and language barriers. But they have been great -- almost too enthusiastic.

"Using imitation as a way of working was instantly accessible and they responded really well."

Robert Stredder, aka Robbo the Clown, has been holding family clowning workshops to help tease the talent out of

budding jugglers and stiltwalkers.

"The great thing about the carnival is that people walking down the street are taken by surprise," he said.

"It's not like booking a seat at the theatre -- you don't know what to expect.

Big smiles at last year's carnival

"You just get sucked into the colour and spectacle. It's lots of fun for all ages. It's a local event which can grow and attract people from all over Oxfordshire and beyond."

Designer and photographer Al Cane has been helping Carnival coordinator Henrietta Gill plan the programme of events and entertainment.

He said: "Cowley Road Carnival has provided me with two of the best days out I've had in east Oxford. For me, it's one of the highlights of the summer and is also a very important unifying event for the whole community, and a whole lot of fun. Wouldn't miss it for anything."

Gurdip Singh Saini, from the Oxford Sikh Association, based at the Asian Cultural Centre, has spent months working on the carnival committee.

"We are living in a multi-cultural community and we should celebrate that. It's a great effort by everyone involved so we can celebrate together and support each other.

"It's a very good opportunity to introduce ourselves, our culture, our tradition and learn about the other people.

"At the end of the carnival we will have learned a few things."

Henrietta Gill has worked tirelessly over the past year to pull all the strands of community enthusiasm together so that all you have to do is turn up, have fun and mingle.

"It's easy for people to stay in their own little groups. The carnival helps people get to know each other and be positive about east Oxford.

"There's a real buzz in the lead-up to carnival day. It's going to be a lot of fun and something Oxford can feel really proud of."