Albi Carnival in the Tarn Department of the Midi-Pyrenees, South West France
Albi held its Carnival during the last week of February and I went along for the closing parade on Sunday.
Carnival week is a full seven days of events with a huge parade to open and close the week.
Albi is also an attractive town with much to offer the visitor.
It makes a great base for exploring the Tarn department and is within easy reach of Toulouse.
Despite the forecast of storms and strong winds for the weekend, luckily the Midi-Pyrenees region escaped the worst of it and Albi Carnival closing parade went ahead on a warm and sunny Sunday with a large and appreciative crowd.
We arrived in plenty of time and there was already a great atmosphere around the town.
The amusement stalls were keeping the expectant crowds entertained while they waited for the start of the parade.
The food stalls were also doing a great trade, particularly the ones selling beignets and churros, variations on donuts! With the fun fair, amusements and the town centre to explore, there was plenty to keeps us occupied before the parade started at half past two.
The parade moved very slowly through the town with a good selection of floats, bands and street entertainers.
I have no idea how many tons of confetti were thrown around, but someone is going to be busy for the next few weeks clearing it up.
I also have a fair scattering in my car and house to remind me of the day! If you don't want to get covered in confetti, stand well back! With participants and spectators play fighting with it and some floats with air blowers sending it high into the air, there was little escape.
The huge floats with amazingly decorated figures must have taken weeks to build and paint.
With a varied assortment of entertainers, from bandas, majorettes, stilt walkers, African groups and all sorts in-between, it was an entertaining and involving show.
Of course, a carnival parade would not be complete without a queen and princesses and Albi's carnival Queen and escorts brought the parade to a close.
Typical of France, there was none of the over zealous crowd control you see in the UK and the parade was continually stopping while children and animals were ushered from the path of the trundling floats and marching bands.
It was a party atmosphere and fantastic fun for all the family, but don't expect sophistication; this is all about enjoying yourself.
If you have not experienced carnival in France yet, make sure you get to one near you soon.
Carnival week is a full seven days of events with a huge parade to open and close the week.
Albi is also an attractive town with much to offer the visitor.
It makes a great base for exploring the Tarn department and is within easy reach of Toulouse.
Despite the forecast of storms and strong winds for the weekend, luckily the Midi-Pyrenees region escaped the worst of it and Albi Carnival closing parade went ahead on a warm and sunny Sunday with a large and appreciative crowd.
We arrived in plenty of time and there was already a great atmosphere around the town.
The amusement stalls were keeping the expectant crowds entertained while they waited for the start of the parade.
The food stalls were also doing a great trade, particularly the ones selling beignets and churros, variations on donuts! With the fun fair, amusements and the town centre to explore, there was plenty to keeps us occupied before the parade started at half past two.
The parade moved very slowly through the town with a good selection of floats, bands and street entertainers.
I have no idea how many tons of confetti were thrown around, but someone is going to be busy for the next few weeks clearing it up.
I also have a fair scattering in my car and house to remind me of the day! If you don't want to get covered in confetti, stand well back! With participants and spectators play fighting with it and some floats with air blowers sending it high into the air, there was little escape.
The huge floats with amazingly decorated figures must have taken weeks to build and paint.
With a varied assortment of entertainers, from bandas, majorettes, stilt walkers, African groups and all sorts in-between, it was an entertaining and involving show.
Of course, a carnival parade would not be complete without a queen and princesses and Albi's carnival Queen and escorts brought the parade to a close.
Typical of France, there was none of the over zealous crowd control you see in the UK and the parade was continually stopping while children and animals were ushered from the path of the trundling floats and marching bands.
It was a party atmosphere and fantastic fun for all the family, but don't expect sophistication; this is all about enjoying yourself.
If you have not experienced carnival in France yet, make sure you get to one near you soon.
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