At the time of Carnaval de Nice, the city erupts into a wide party, with parades in the daytime and evening and a large bonfire and fireworks on Mardi Gras itself. Flower processions, floats, and parties make Nice the place to be for carnival in France.
The festival begins on a Saturday 10 days before Mardi Gras with the arrival of the carnival king. There are parades every night or day for the entire carnival. At the height of the Carnaval de Nice is awash with flowers. Since 1876 the carnival in Nice has included a Bataille de Fleurs (battle of flowers). Twenty meticulously designed flower-covered floats parade down the Promenade des Anglais along the Nice beaches. Costumed men and women throw approximately 100,000 flowers to an enthusiastic audience. Some 90% of the flowers—carnations, daisies, gerberas, gladioli, mimosa, roses, and other varieties—are produced locally, highlighting the variety and quality of the flowers grown in the French Riviera. The flower parade takes places several times during the Nice carnival.
Events like the flower parades make the carnival in Nice the liveliest in the country and one of the best of all France events. In France carnival is a time of unrestricted celebration and Nice has the most spectacular carnival in France. The date of the festival depends of the date of Easter and varies from year to year between February 3 and March 9. Most years it falls sometime in mid-February. The festival culminates on the Tuesday of Mardi Gras with a not-to-be-missed Grande Parade and fireworks.
In 2009, Carnaval de Nice took place from 13 February to 1 March, and the theme was Roi des Mascarades (King of Masquerades). With 20 tall floats (up to 14 meters / 46 feet high); 20 flower floats; 200 "big heads"; and countless dancers, musicians, and other participants - not to mention tens of thousands of spectators, it was a fun and crazy celebration.
Sources:
http://www.destination360.com/europe/france/carnival-france.php
http://french.about.com/od/travelfrance/ig/Carnaval-de-Nice-2009/index.01.htm
Certainly an informative Post! Carnaval de Nice is indeed a beguiling festival worth cherishing with family & friends. My family & I are visiting planning a trip to some of the top-notch places to visit in France. We will surely spare few days to explore Nice festival France.
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