If it’s Friday, it must be France …

Once February arrives in Nice, you know Carnaval is not far off. Revellers arrive from around the world to join in the celebration that lasts for two weeks. Parades, floats, flowers, bands, magicians, fireworks, presentations, and food … all this and more!

The theme this year is music and the King Of Music leads all the parades with the biggest float. Parades take place day and night for 15 days with a variety of themes and more than 1000 musicians and dancers. The enormous papier-maché configurations are spectacular. Gigantic balloon figures dominate the daytime spaces and breathtaking fireworks over the Mediterranean turn every evening into a pyrotechnical fantasy world.

Here’s a quick peek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdsXAMerT7g

And did I mention food? This is France, after all!

And watch out for silly string! Really? To read more about the long (and often hilarious) history of this carnival, please visit this post by Margo Lestz. She always knows the most fascinating details!

In Canada we have Winterlude in Ottawa and the Carnaval de Québec in Quebec City plus 18 other winter festivals I didn’t know about until I researched this post. Have you been to any of these? One thing they all have in common? You definitely need to bundle up!

In Nice, not so much … but this year you might need an umbrella and rain gear. Unfortunately, some of last week’s events had to be cancelled due to rain. Mother Nature is playing havoc with weather all over the globe!

Check out the photo contest on Instagram and Twitter ‪#‎ignicecarnaval‬!

Have you celebrated at any of the other famous carnivals … in Rio de Janeiro  or New Orleans or Venice? Or in your opinion is the best one right in your own hometown?

 

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