Carnaval de Paris

When? February 7 2016
What? Thousands fill the streets for music, dancing and food, on the erstwhile Feast of Fools.
Where? Various venues

It’s come and gone from the Parisian calendar since it started in the 16th century to celebrate the Feast of Fools, but right now the Carnaval de Paris is in fine fettle. Relaunched in 1998 after a long hiatus, it takes the ancient ‘Boeuf Gras’ festival – a butcher’s costume parade – as its starting point. Cultural associations, dance troupes and local unions from all over the city don their very finest costumes and take to the streets and celebrate their brilliant multiplicity in the chilly days between Mardi Gras and Easter.

Colourful, easy-going and increasingly popular (even if not widely known across Paris), the Carnaval welcomes thousands or participants and spectators and fills the streets for a long day of music, dancing, food and celebrations. The theme of the 2016 Carnaval de Paris will be ‘Le Monde Fantastique Aquatique’, so start sewing sequins to your mermaid costume pronto.

For more information on the 2016 Carnaval de Paris, click here.