The 133rd Nice Carnival kicked off last Saturday with an ultra-secure parade. For the first time, this year’s route is protected by barriers, and entry is through security gates. The show itself is truly impressive.
Tuesday saw the second parade of the 2017 edition. As with the first, the work of the carnival floats was remarkable. This year, seventeen floats parade under the primary theme of energy.
In line with the Carnival’s history, balls, farandoles, and various dances are organized and performed by more than a thousand professional artists in costume. In the Middle Ages, it was customary during this period to engage in irony and parody through various costumes and masks.
No one can overlook the reinforced security at this 2017 edition. On the spectator side, 7,000 attended Saturday’s parade, compared to 14,000 last year. Additionally, the Carnival’s organization notes a 20% decrease in reservations compared to 2016. The route is cyclical between Jean Jaurès and Félix Faure avenues and no longer goes through the Promenade des Anglais.
The show, in any case, is worth seeing, as the coming days will tell if the fears subside to somewhat recapture the carnival spirit.
