Carnival enthusiasts are busy at work in the Maison du Carnaval workshops. The King is headless, due to ceiling height constraints. Nothing is finished yet, but rest assured, everything will be ready on time for a spectacular show. “The people of Nice must be able to identify with the Carnival, just as the residents of Rio or Venice do,” says Rudy Salles, the Vice President of the Nice Convention and Visitors Bureau. The 2009 Carnival, which will highlight new features, will belong to the people of Nice. Its single goal is to grant the citizens a richer, more elaborate, and lively Carnival experience. The competition for the best Carnival shop window will be launched, and festive Carnival activities will take place in each district. 2009 is also the year of the child. A thousand children will accompany the King and Queen. “Our children are the guardians of the Carnival’s future,” remarks Denis Zanon, General Director of the Nice Convention and Visitors Bureau. “There is a real heritage of craftsmanship in Nice. It’s vital to raise awareness among the younger generations to ensure this festival continues.”
New features
The King will take his place in Massรฉna Square, the iconic and traditional venue for the Carnival. In keeping with current standards of equality, the Queen will, for the first time, be alongside the sovereign. An 80mยฒ, energy-efficient giant screen will allow everyone to view documents related to the history of the Carnival.
This year, organizers have opted for twenty monumental, mobile floats and two smaller ones. Additionally, creating two hundred large heads compared to one hundred and twenty last year marks another new development. The route for the Battle of Flowers on the Promenade des Anglais has been extended by 900 meters, up to the Negresco.
While the workshops are all over the place, the installation of the stands has begun. Finally, vast luminous frescoes will be erected on the facades of buildings at the top of Jean Mรฉdecin avenue. These are painted using oil and will be recycled.
Carnival in the face of crisis
While waiting for the 80 to 120 million euros promised to the city, officials are finding solutions, while trying to give international renown to the Mediterranean capital.
“It is essential for both French and international tourists to come here for several days during the Carnival, but also to enjoy the shops and the many activities in the region,” explains Rudy Salles.
2009 is also the year of France in Brazil. Nice has twinned with 28 cities, including Rio de Janeiro, famous for its Carnival. Although contacts had been stalled for several years, they have resumed in recent months. Nice and its parade will be very well represented as the last float of the Brazilian procession, “the biggest,” celebrates Rudy Salles, will represent the city. 500 dancers, adorned with flowers, will embody the Azurean city.
This year, the budget for organizing the festivities has reached 6 million euros. One million two hundred thousand people attended the 2008 edition.
