The French Riviera is renowned for its festivals and celebrations of arts and culture, and one of the busiest winter events is the Nice Carnival.

One of the largest carnivals in the world, the Nice Carnival has a strong reputation to maintain year after year. The theme for 2011 is King of the Mediterranean, a homage to the history of the carnival, and its prominent role in Nice’s past, present and future. Based on the Promenade des Anglais, crowds of spectators follow decorated floats that eventually work their way up to the Place Masséna.

The Carnival Parade is made up of 20 floats, each decorated to reflect the theme of the year. There are also around 30 figurines made of papier mache that create a colourful trail to weave the parade through the streets of Nice. Amongst the floats is the added participation of various street theatre and music groups from around the world, who do a grand job of entertaining the crowds. These floats are illuminated in the evening to form the ‘Parade of Lights’, a popular aspect of the carnival that lights up the heart of Nice.

In between the day and evening carnivals is the ‘Flower Parade’. It has been showcasing the quality and large quantity of the Riviera’s flowers since 1876. Up to 90% of the flowers used are produced locally. Much like the main carnival, 20 flower-covered floats parade along the Promenade des Anglais and are decorated to reflect the year’s theme. There are also costumed models that throw 80-100,000 flowers to the crowd. The Flower Parade has become one of the most integral parts of the carnival and shows Nice’s expertise in beauty and charm.

To reserve your tickets for the Nice Carnival 2011, go to: http://www.nicecarnaval.com/en/reservation/reservations-ligne/billeterie.php

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