The most important carnivals France

This festival, celebrated before Lent, symbolizes the end of winter and the return of spring. And to each his own disguise! Associations are busy cutting, sewing, nailing, sawing and painting! Anything goes for a few hours... Parades of floats, confetti, brass bands and masked balls, as well as crêpes, apple fritters and croustillons. The date is set for April 2024, at Place Corbis in the town center. A theme is defined every year to bring even more creativity to the city!

Each year Cadillac sees its most beautiful tanks scroll on its streets. Mr. Carnival away on his tank with confetti and music to then be tried and burned on the castle square as tradition desires. Information: 05 56 62 12 92.

The Arcachon Carnival theme this year is «Arcachon Carnival and its funny machines». Travel in time and in various universes, a true pleasure for eyes in a beautiful atmosphere.

COCU? The Organizing Committee of the Unified Carnival! It is this colourful association that organises the Toulouse Carnival. On the initiative of several student and cultural associations, the arrival of spring is celebrated as it should be. It all starts with a descent of the Avenue de la Colonne in a soapbox. Music, refreshments and workshops, the atmosphere is guaranteed. Then there is a treasure hunt followed by a neighbourhood party on Place de l'Extrapade, which lasts several days, with small gifts from the shopkeepers! Finally comes the parade, which starts with the handing over of the keys of the city by the Mayor and ends with music after, of course, the cremation of Mr. Carnaval.

The village of Prats de Mollo la Preste is every year the theater of a traditional and singular carnival. To celebrate the imminent return of spring, the villagers disguise themselves as bears, the emblematic animal of the region. They put on a sheepskin and cover themselves with soot. Armed with clubs, these bears start a wild saraband and lead in a crazy farandole. Three days of carnival festivities including the parade of the Carnival Majesties.

For ten days at the end of February and the beginning of March, Chalon-sur-Saône vibrates to the rhythm of the "gôniots", the carnival-goers who take over the town. Two large parades on consecutive Sundays are the highlight of the^5th largest carnival in France. Decorated floats, papier-mâché heads, marching bands and majorettes from all over the world make their way through the town center, with huge confetti battles everywhere. Other highlights include Carnaband's Show, a musical extravaganza featuring 500 artists from all over Europe, and a huge funfair with over a hundred rides.