The Nice Carnival “Long Live the Queen” comes to the neighborhoods! This Friday, February 20, Wilson Garden, Heart of Nice resonated with music, laughter and colorful confetti. After the students with the Face’Parade, it was the turn of Families and children to gather with the Carnival of the Territories! for a festive afternoon filled with DJs, dancers and fun activities, where dance battles, showers of confetti and bursts of joy made every moment a true celebration and sharing.
Throughout the afternoon, Patrick, 55 years old, an entertainer, animated Wilson Garden with energy and good humor. Microphone in hand, he guided the children through choreography, orchestrated the mothers’ dance battle and encouraged each participant. “Because it’s a great event. It’s a reason to party in Nice, it’s the carnival. And here, it’s the carnival in the neighborhoods, so it’s great because we find the carnival atmosphere,” explains Patrick. For him, all neighborhoods matter: “we try to bring all the children to participate and play with us… we make them dance, move, we dress them up, we make them up, we transform them… it’s great.”
Among them, Gad, 31 years old, a dancer, found himself at the center of attention during the confetti battle. Targeted by a group of overexcited children, he plays along with energy and transforms each confetti attack into a moment of complicity. “We saw you eating confetti earlier, but you’re keeping a smile, does that make you happy?” the entertainer asks him. Gad, covered in colored paper, laughs in response: “well yes, I have a piece in my hair! But it doesn’t bother me. I enjoyed dancing.” For him, the essential thing is that “everyone has fun” and that the children and parents leave with smiles and memories.
100% Female Dance Battle
Following the Queen’s example, women lead the dance with the mothers’ battle, which is also very popular. Among the participants, Paula, 48 years old, a nurse of Romanian origin, came with her daughter Victoria, 10 years old, enjoying herself fully despite her defeat: “it doesn’t bother me. I enjoyed dancing,” she shares. Her daughter naturally adds: “it doesn’t matter. Next time!”, emphasizing that the experience and pleasure of dancing together take priority over the result.
The victory goes to Leila, 49 years old, a home tutor of English origin who stands out for her energy and passion for dance. “I don’t compete… now I dance with passion, as an expression of joy and I pass that on to my children who also dance!”, she explains in front of her children, Joshua James, 11 years old and Graciella, 9 years old, who came to encourage her on stage. Since her youth, she has loved the stage, but today she dances simply for pleasure and to share her good mood with children and families. Her medal presented by the entertainer symbolizes celebration and sharing more than competition.
At the end of the duel, children and adults gather around the stage, applaud and throw a few more handfuls of confetti. The battle closes in an explosion of joy and laughter, perfectly illustrating the family and friendly spirit of the Neighborhood Carnival and thus the Nice Carnival as a whole!
As a reminder, the carnival of the territories continues:
- Monday, February 23 – Lecuyer Garden – Banks of the Paillon
- Thursday, February 26 – Jean Gabin Square – Collines niçoises
- Friday, February 27 – Saint Isidore Garden – Nice West
- Saturday, February 28 – Saint-Etienne District, Colonel Jean-Pierre Square – Heart of Nice.
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