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The Cambridge Carnival returned to the streets of Central Square for its 30th anniversary celebration on Sunday. The annual costume parade and Afro-Caribbean culture festival put on display a vibrant mix of costumes, dance, food, and music for hundreds of attendees.

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Lynette Laveau Saxe is the co-founder of Cambridge Carnival and a self-described “keeper of stories.” At the Cambridge Revelers storytelling tent, she recounts the origin of the Carnival and how it symbolizes the history of emancipation from slavery, a celebration of culture, and freedom.

Cambridge Revelers is a Cambridge Carnival group founded 3 years ago to renew and revitalize the festival while helping the community understand its history and mission.

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The parade proceeds along Sydney Street with musicians, dancers, and flamboyant costumes. Participants at the front hold a Panamanian flag, and a Haitian flag hangs from a food truck in the background.

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The Soca Fusion Dancers perform across from University Park Commons. Soca is a traditional Caribbean dance originating from Trinidad and Tobago.

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Audience members dance to the beat of a West African drum group by the Cambridge Revelers tent.

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Several steel bands and percussion groups regularly join the carnival parade.

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An array of stands along Sydney Street sell a variety of street foods including Samosas, Jamaican cuisine, and Korean fried chicken.

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The Carnival comes alive with extravagant costumes and dazzling colors.

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Dancers hold hands, forming a line as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of this Cambridge tradition.