Celebrate Carnival in Paris

Text: Joanna Bronowicka
Photo: Maciej Zgadzaj

Did you think you have to go to Rio de Janeiro or Venice to celebrate the Carnival? This year, forget these obvious destinations and join the Carnival celebrations in Paris! On Sunday, February 14th at 2.30pm, the Carnival de Paris procession will start from Place Gambetta, reach Belleville at 4pm and Place de la République at 5.15pm before winding up on the square in front of the Hôtel de Ville at 7pm. If you want to get into the festive mood the night before, at Cabaret Sauvage, Brazilian artists will bring to you the samba, pagode and batucada beats straight from Rio de Janeiro.

Celebrating carnival in Paris is a tradition that dates back to the 16th century, when the medieval tradition of the annual Feast of Fools was condemned by the Catholic Church and gradually replaced with Promenade du Bœuf Gras, the Fat Cow Parade. In the 19th century the Carnival parade reassembled as many as 400 thousand people, but in the 20th century it declined in popularity. In 1954, due to logistic problems, the tradition disappeared altogether from the streets of Paris until 1997 when local associations brought it back to life.

The theme of this year’s edition, which will take place on Saint Valentine’s Day, the is the “Improbable Couples.” Since the Carnival coincides also with the Chinese New Year, one of the culminating points of the day will be the encounter of the two parades at Place de la Republique. This event is an opportunity to discover the wonders of Parisian multiculturalism and many of the local associations, social clubs, batucadas, fanfares and street artists. For more details visit the website or the blog of Carnival de Paris.

On Saturday night, the group Noites do Brasil will take over Cabaret Sauvage to bring the spirit of Rio de Janeiro to Paris. The party will mix the Valentine’s Day and Carnival themes. The evening will start at 10pm with an explosive combination of more than 30 drummers from the samba school Sambatuc and a vocal of Lia Prestes, followed by pagode and roda de samba beats from La Roda do Cavaco and a batucada from Lyon, Le Cri de la Bat, which will recreate the ambiance of the street carnival. For the rest of the night, DJ Noites will bring on the hottest party tracks from Brazilian night clubs.

Le Cabaret Sauvage
Parc de la Villette
Pedestraian Access at 59 bd Mac Donald
Mº Porte de la Villette

Tickets: 18/20EUR