The Shambala Carnival is the stuff of legend. Genuinely. The effort our crowd put into their costumes each year is truly mindblowing – and each year, the bar seems to get higher, and higher, and higher. Truly one of the highlights of the festival, with thousands of people parading in their most creative, hilarious, homemade finery.

The theme is chosen by our community each year and put to the vote. The Shambala 2025 carnival theme is….

Pun Intended

Get your head out of the clouds, we want you all ears, it’s time to spill the beans: we’re up to some punny business! Whether you’re a chick magnet, book worm, party pooper, gold digger, or tough cookie, there’s no need to go on a wild goose chase for an expensive costume, you don’t need to spend a pretty penny to look the dog’s b*llocks. Let’s just hope it doesn’t rain cats and dogs during the parade, but even if it does, every cloud has a silver lining...!

(and before any more of you make us feel like absolute idioms, let’s not be pun purists with this theme – puns, idioms, word play, turns of phrase are all totally valid interpretations)

In need of inspiration? Check our pinterest board, here.

(A little note from our sustainability team – please be mindful to make your carnival costumes from recycled or second hand materials wherever possible, and swerve the temptation to buy tat from Amazon!)