With a reputation for being the most fun and the noisiest carnival in Europe, the Carnival de Dunkerque on the furthest northern edge of France is not like the others.
No long parade of floats though you may come across a couple of giants.
No throwing of flowers – in this town it’s about the throwing of herrings and lobster. After several weeks of parties and balls the carnival of Dunkirk explodes with a riot of colour and music onto the streets of this friendly town. On the Sunday before Ash Wednesday each year at 17.00, watch out as 500kg of herring are chucked into the crowd below the Town Hall balcony - don’t worry, they’re wrapped in plastic (15 February 2015).
Men of all ages dress as women, and apply makeup with varying degrees of success turning Dunkerque into a town of pantomime dames. Women also don brightly coloured clothes and scarves. Parasols on long poles are waved around as, linking arms and roaming the streets, the crowds follow the bands and singing their hearts out. This has got to be the friendliest carnival in France and one of the strangest. The fun culminates on Sunday afternoon in the grand square in front of the town’s historic town hall when the Mayor of Dunkirk, mounts the balcony and throws herring and plastic lobsters (catch one and exchange it for a real one) to the excited crowd below.
Rowdy, noisy, colourful and huge fun!
Tip: Wrap up warm and wear your brightest colours!
Carnaval de Dunkerque - noisy, rowdy and enormous fun!