Celebrating 60 years of Notting Hill Carnival

Today is all about families and the children. And they have certainly got the memo. There are children everywhere, all ready for the fun of the day. Toddling past me is surely one of Notting Hill Carnival's youngest visitors. Triny-Savannah is just 18 months old, and is here with her mum Twinsy, all the way from Paris. "It means a lot to be here," Twinsy says. She explains that her parents used to bring her and her twin sister, and now she's carrying on the tradition with the next generation. "It's the celebration of the abolition of slaves, so it's a big day of memories," Twinsy says. Sitting on the pavement nearby I spot eight-year-old Alex and his mum, Tiana. I soon find out it's Alex's first Carnival. He has the biggest smile on his face and a water pistol loaded with paint. "I haven't been for a long time," Tiana, from Enfield, explains, "but when I was younger I used to come religiously every year and it's nice to come back with Alex."I ask Alex how he feels about the whole morning, and he says: "I love it. It's really busy, but then it's also like we're all together at the same time, so that's great."Before the parade starts, I go in search of a snack and find a food stall tucked away from all the crowds. The man being served ahead of me, Dave, bites into his snack and he's instantly in heaven. "When I bite into this, I feel like I'm about to land in Trinidad and I'm looking out of the window at the beauty," he says, still with his eyes closed, imagining it. He's eating "doubles", a street food snack of flatbreads filled with curried chickpeas.The woman serving, Christina Bedau, asks if I want to try it. Of course I do. But, hold the extra spice please, as I'm useless with anything too hot. Christina hands me her creation, and it looks great. When I taste it, I can see what Dave means, although, I think to make it a fair comparison, I should probably fly to Trinidad just to check he's being accurate. Christina has been coming to Notting Hill Carnival with her food stall, Sweet Hand Cuisine, for the past seven years. She says she "has to come" because if she didn't, the regulars who come back every year would be "up in arms". She estimates she'll sell at least 500 doubles this weekend.The family next to me catch my eye, all kitted out in matching St Vincent's outfits. Daniel's five-year-old son Asher has already got tired legs, so he's popped him on his shoulders. It could be a long day for Daniel's shoulders.Daniel explains that his wife, Rachel, is from the Caribbean island and they have all just returned from their first family holiday there. "It's great to represent St Vincent here," Daniel says. "This is a perfect kind of event," he adds. I say goodbye to the family and realise the time. I have to head off to write about my day. I take another 50 photos, at least, on the walk back to Paddington station. I spot a poster as I leave, which says: "Fund 60 more," and asks people to donate money, to keep Carnival going. I wonder what Carnival will look like in another 60 years? Perhaps some of the children I met today will remember this big milestone for the festival, and tell their children about today, in another 60 years.Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk, external