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Carnival season is more than just elaborate costumes, live music, street parties, and allegorical floats – that’s just the fun part! Its historical roots are linked to an annual festival that welcomes the coming of spring while paying homage to the pagen gods that oversee nature’s rebirth.
Street Performer In Full Carnival Dress.// Photo by Ugur Arpaci on Unsplash
Carnival’s biggest events include Rio de Janeiro’s internationally acclaimed colorful parade and New Orleans’ own Mardi Gras; however, after my family enjoyed many of them, here is a rundown of the best Carnival Festivals all around Europe for families and what to experience at and around each one.
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Venice Carnival In Venice, Italy
This Venetian Carnival reportedly attracts as many as three million visitors to the floating city during the festivities. The Venetians take a lot of pride in their Carnival preparations, finely dusting every detail with class while taking advantage of the city’s romantic fill of 13th-century buildings, gondolas, and fine art- perhaps making it the most elegant Carnival in the world as well. St. Mark’s Square is the center of attraction for the majority of the festivities; however, as you pass through the city’s various sestiere, or quarters, there are plenty of attractions, live music, extravagant costumes, and great food for your family to enjoy.
The Carnival In Venice.// Photo by Pascal Riben on Unsplash
Don’t miss all the popular children’s events in the Cannareggio district. The program includes various games designed to embellish the creative and artistic themes of the festivities. The sponsors do a marvelous job of integrating mathematical and scientific concepts with the musical programs, dance, and games for everyone to enjoy.
The Carnival of Venice is celebrated for several weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday. Taking place on the second Sunday of the city’s festivities is one of the most iconic events, ‘Il Volo Dell’Angelo,’ or the ‘Flight Of The Angel.” This historical reenactment is symbolic of a young Turkish acrobat performing a daring visit to the Doge (more commonly known as a magistrate or Duke), during Venice’s Serenissima period – which was its ancient status as a republic that lasted from the fifth century to 1797.
Before you start wandering around Venice, whether by foot or water taxi, have a plan. All around the city are opportunities for you and your family to be intrigued by spectacles of love, art, and theater.
Don’t Miss! 6 Incredible Spots To Celebrate Carnevale In Italy With Kids
First, see what is scheduled on the event’s main website. Also, if attending a masquerade ball is a must for your family, be sure to make reservations ahead of time and check to see if there are any age restrictions.
There is something magical about wandering the streets and canals of the floating city in full carnival attire. Numerous boutiques offer a costume rental service if you intend to really live it up like a Venetian. However, DIY costumes or your kid’s favorite get-up is just as fun. In either case, I urge you to visit Ca’ Macana, a renowned Venetian mask handicraft store. Walking in, you will be stunned by the beauty of the different regalia on display. My recommendation is for you to jump onto their website and book a family workshop. The artisans are both passionate and fun, and by the end of your mask-making session, your family will go back into Venice’s street parade culturally enriched.
When Is Venice Carnival
Carnival dates follow a liturgical calendar which means it changes every year in accordance with Lent that is tied to the movable feast of Easter. For example, this year, Carnival celebrations began on February 12 and ended on Shrove Tuesday (March 1), the day before Ash Wednesday.
Other Things To Do In Venice
Venice is full of things to do at all times of the year. Carnevale celebrations will consume plenty of your time, especially, since you have to slow things down with kids to make the experience as smooth and comfortable as possible.
Whenever you find a pocket of time available, be sure not to miss all this beautiful city has to offer. From taking a gondola ride on the grand canal (yes, it’s just one of those things you have to do), to tasting street food (you haven’t lived until you try the traditional frittelle), checking out the spooky prisons inside the Doge’s palace, taking in a great show, or visiting a kids museum (the Leonardo da Vinci Museum will impress) are just a few activities worth the mention.
How To Get To Venice
Travel from Los Angeles (LAX) to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport (VCE) will require at least one-stop along the way from any of the top airlines.
An excellent discount site for flights (and cars, hotels) is Expedia! This is where we start our research for the best deals!
If you’d like to be in the know for exclusive discounts to fly anywhere in the world, check out Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights). Their website shows current deals, and they send emails when they find new deals. Try out their free 7-day membership to save BIG money on flights. I’m not kidding. They have the best deals out there and we’ve tried them all, or so it seems. There’s no need to buy a membership (you’ll still have access to great deals with their free trial).
Family-Friendly Hotel In Venice
The Ca’ Due Leoni is a quaint Venetian hotel complete with a beautiful indoor garden for some peace and tranquility away from the busy and colorful streets. It is a comfortable spot, near all the action with an exceptional breakfast spread in the mornings.
Notting Hill Carnival, London, England
Born out of the need to improve race relations, the Notting Hill Carnival now attracts millions of attendees as they seek to inspire the world to practice cultural unity. There is no better way to fight for unity than through artistic expression – and when it comes to music, Notting Hill delivers.
Notting Hill Carnival in Full Color.// Photo By Keri Hambly on Flickr
The year 1966 marked the official birth of what is now known as the Notting Hill Carnival, although the London district had seen earlier adaptations. In its five decades of extravagant life, the Notting Hill Carnival has exploded into “the largest street event in Europe,” according to its official website.
Since the 1948 Caribbean migration, Caribbean culture continues to spread throughout London’s streets. Begin your day by loading up on goodies from the hundreds of street food vendors present while enjoying the sounds of reggae, calypso, soca, merengue, rumba, and the unmistakable sounds of the steel pan – a Trinidadian hallmark.
When celebrating Carnival in Notting Hill, you will be amazed by how many live stages and performers come together to make this three-day event – with over 50,000 performers, 30 super-amplified sound systems, and a wide range of bands – attract over 2 million spectators to Notting Hill each year.
When Does Carnival In Notting Hill Begin
The Carnival in Notting Hill begins its celebration on the August Bank Holiday Weekend. The three-day celebration is observed on the last Monday during the month of August. For the year 2023, festivities are scheduled to begin on August 27.
Other Things To Do In Notting Hill
The Portabello Market of Notting Hill is still one of London’s finest and is a great way to get some exercise while rummaging through the endless parade of antique shops, flea market type stalls, and street food set-ups.
If your family has a couple hours, step back into time and enjoy one of the feature films playing at the Electric Cinema– your family may never have another opportunity to enjoy popcorn while snuggled in a cashmere blanket on a full-length armchair, sofa, or velvet bed.
And for all of you music lovers, check out Rough Trade – arguably one of the world’s top record stores.
Don’t forget though that you are in London, so be sure to plan enough time to visit all the staple attractions like Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye (Europe’s tallest ferris wheel). Take a tour of the city atop one of London’s iconic double-decker buses.
How To Get To Notting Hill
There are several non-stop flights from Los Angeles to London Heathrow. Jump on a bus or train from the airport and arrive directly to the Notting Hill Gate Station in approximately thirty minutes.
Best Family Hotel in Notting Hill
Even though prices are significantly higher during this period, the Byron Hotel London is near enough (one mile away) to Notting Hill’s street parades without worrying about the noise keeping your kids (and you) awake at night.
Carnival of Santa Cruz In Tenerife, Spain
Tenerife is the largest island in the Canary Islands archipelago. It is also home to the epic Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This carnival runs for several weeks usually beginning late February and exuberant parties help escort participants into the Lenten period. The official dates change yearly, however, it all begins with the crowning of the Carnival Queens amongst award ceremonies for several other singing and dancing competitions.
Queen’s Gala at the Carnival of Santa Cruz.// Photo By Visit Tenerife On Flickr
The Santa Cruz Carnival is very well organized and its schedule often includes several types of events. Your family can wear whatever costumes you like but you will notice that the carnival is centered around a common theme – this year, for instance, voters selected science fiction (think aliens, spaceships, time travel, and galaxies). Voting is open to the public for one week during the month of May at the official carnival website the year prior.
All of the parties really begin once the carnival queens have been crowned at the Queen’s Gala that takes place the Wednesday before Carnival weekend. The streets fill with the distinct sounds of rondall, murga, and comparsas – musical genres popular in Mexico, Uruguay, and Cuba.
The next big event is the Opening Parade with all eyes on the newly elected carnival queens. With energy and adrenaline levels on high, live music and performances carry on until dawn of the following morning.
My family took advantage of the city calm following the raucous festivities, the following Saturday, enjoying the jovial atmosphere surrounding the city’s streets and parks. On March 1, Carnival Sunday’s main event is held, attracting more than a quarter-million people to the city’s center.
Then on Fat Tuesday, the closing parade known as Coso Apoteosis explodes with color, extravagant costumes, floats, music, and incredible performances. But the most historical event follows on Ash Wednesday with the Entierro de la Sardina, Burial of the Sardine – perhaps the most bizarre culminating Carnival event in the world marking the official beginning of Lent.
When Does the Carnival of Santa Cruz Happen
The Carnival of Santa Cruz in Tenerife this year will be held February 17-26, 2023.
How To Get To Carnival of Santa Cruz
Be sure to search flights heading into Tenerife’s Northern Airport also known as Los Rodeos – it is just a ten-minute taxi ride to Santa Cruz, the island’s capital which hosts the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Where To Stay During Carnival of Santa Cruz
Due to availability issues, our stay was divided between Hotel Escuela and Hotel Taburiente and we were very pleased with both. These hotels feature large open space rooms, a kid-friendly environment reasonably close to all of the city’s main attractions, and outstanding service.
Other Things To Do In Tenerife
Your family has the perfect opportunity to explore the island in between, experiencing Santa Cruz Carnival’s biggest events. Everyone will certainly be on an adrenalin high during the festivities, but taking in the island’s scenic outdoors is an excellent way to come back down to earth.
Enjoy nature’s candy by taking a walk through the Mercado Municipal Nuestra Senora de Africa. Here, your family can try local delicacies, fill up on exotic fruits, and enjoy local music. If you have smaller kiddos, bring them to one of several play areas within the market space while you take a load off your feet and people-watch.
The Beauty of Tenerife.// Photo by Mihály Köles on Unsplash
Our family decided to dedicate one of our travel days to exploring some of the outdoors on the island of Tenerife (an approximate area of just over 2,000 km). The Sendero El Bosque Encantado, Enchanted Rainforest, located in the northeastern part of the island, is a fantastic way to get lost in beauty – full of tropical flowers, ferns, and succulents; dramatic mountain views; birds, and prehistoric caves.
Don’t Miss! A Walk In The Redwoods: Family Activities at the Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort
Binche Carnival in Binche, Belgium
After a full year of preparation, the small town of Binche puts on its Binche Carnival, a UNESCO-registered three-day carnival event. The history of the event is quite obscure which only romanticizes its festivities that much more.
Legend has it that Mary of Hungary organized a special welcome for her brother Charles V along with nephew Phillipe II towards the latter part of medieval times. The party was so extravagant with colorful costumes, dance performances, and live music, that the locals decided to adopt the celebrations as an annual event.
My family was entranced by the mysticism and secrecy surrounding Belgium’s carnival season. There is even a defense folklore association tasked with preserving the traditional costumes and heritage of the Binche Carnival.
Infamous Gille’s Mask Of The Binche Carnival.// Photo By Marechal Jacques On Flickr
The Gille costume represents the flattering motifs that originally manifested in the middle ages during a party thrown for Charles V by good ole’ sister Mary. The custom-made outfit consists of a large tunic filled with straw and adorned with multiple bells. A large collar is placed around the neck and the waistline is wrapped with a woven belt. A beret-style hat is worn, except for Shrove Tuesday, or Fat Tuesday, when a feather hat replaces it. However, it is the cotton and wax-made masks that have caught worldwide attention and have enjoyed artistic protection by the European Patent Office since 1985.
The three-day period leading up to Lent is commonly referred to as Shrovetide. Beginning on Shrove Sunday, the sound of drums and traditional viola accompany the party’s featured characters that include: the Gille, the Peasant, the Sailor, the Arlequin, the Pierrot, the Gille’s Wife, and tons of musicians. Shrove Monday is all about the kids and young people, exhilarated by dances, confetti fights, and fireworks. Finally, Shrove Tuesday ends the famous carnival celebrations with oyster feasts and champagne, family gatherings, more dance and music, and of course, fireworks.
When Is Binche Carnival Celebrated
The Binche Carnival is usually celebrated the three days preceding Ash Wednesday (which is a movable feast).
Other Things To Do In Binche
Discover the town’s ancient ramparts, take a look around the Collegiale Saint-Ursmer Church, and visit the International Carnival and Mask Museum. Not too far away in the heart of Europe’s waterway network, bring your kids to visit the largest boat lift in all of Europe – The Boat Lift of Strepy-Thieu. You won’t want to miss a ride along the canal watching these incredibly engineered lifts in action.
How To Get To The Binche Carnival
There are great flight deals from Los Angeles (LAX) to Brussels (BRU). From there, rent a car and enjoy the Belgian scenery on the hour-long drive south to the small town of Binche.
An excellent discount site for flights (and cars, hotels) is Expedia! This is where we start our research for the best deals!
Where To Stay In Binche
Oh the memories at Au Gite de Binche – I hope your family enjoys this small converted cottage complete with a luscious garden, board games, its very own hiking trail, seasonal bbq, owner-recommended tours, and discounts on stays over seven nights, as much as we did.
Cologne Carnival in Cologne, Germany
In Cologne, people regard carnival with such high esteem that they consider the seven weeks of celebrations leading up to the Catholic period of Lent their “fifth season.”
Though the locals have already been partying for weeks, your family won’t be missing anything if you can at least find yourself in Cologne for the six crazy days that extend from Weiberfastnacht, the Thursday before Shrove Tuesday, through Ash Wednesday.
The Where’s Waldo Scarf, a cold brew, bushy hair, and big smiles- All you need in Cologne during Carnival Season.// Photo By Bruno Schoonbrodt On Flickr
Much like the ancient Romans and Greeks, Germanic tribes celebrated the winter solstice and paid homage to the gods that would then provide for them during the oncoming Spring season. Over its 190 years of official history, the Cologne carnival finally adapted to Catholic principles, becoming the last big hoorah before the Lent season.
Besides the street parades, traditional dances, and awesome costumes, the people of Cologne are all about having a good time and they know just how to do that while singing their favorite German tunes at the top of their lungs.
[ctt template=”5″ link=”HPK3p” via=”no” ]Many areas around the world put on fantastic Carnivals but these 5 cities in Europe are the best for families to celebrate the carnival festival.[/ctt]
I found it quite amusing to learn that the three main Cologne Carnival figures are a Prince, a Peasant, and a Virgin. Besides them, you will see red and white colors intertwined throughout the entire carnival – this is because Cologne fans are extremely faithful to their local soccer team, Koln FC, so be careful if you decide to wear another team’s jersey!
All Praise To Koln FC (soccer club) During Cologne’s Carnival.// Photo By Rafal Jalocha On Flickr
Most of the locals are burned out on partying by the time Carnival Friday arrives so that day is one of the calmest of the season. While the serious partygoers were at home licking their beer wounds, our family decided to take advantage of the quieter streets and take in local sights. This is also a great day for watching local theater performances, listening to traditional music and enjoying dance shows. You can also bring your kids to watch some of the greatest puppet plays at Hanneschen Theater.
Masquerade balls, more parties, and the highly anticipated Ghost Parade occurs over Carnival weekend. Locally known as Geisterzug, the Ghost Parade evolved over the past thirty years from anti-war protests that sparked the city after the second Gulf War. Today it is a Carnival feature in Cologne where you have the opportunity to hit the streets in your spookiest costumes and enjoy yet another fun-filled parade.
Take in what you’d like but be sure to wake up nice and early for the Rose Monday Carnival Parade where more than one million people walk the streets. This is Cologne’s main parade event that showcases elaborately decorated floats, great music, with characters throwing flowers and candy into the crowd.
Shrove Tuesday hosts the iconic Burning of the Nubbel. Wat iz der Nubbel? The Nubbel is a life-size straw puppet, the ‘bad guy,’ crafted by hand, that is supposedly responsible for influencing the people of Cologne to party hard throughout the Carnival season. Now if you ask me, it’s silly to blame anyone else for your overindulgence over an eleven-week period but the people of Cologne have managed to accept their seasonal misdeeds and wrongdoings by choosing to use Mr. Nubbel as their scapegoat.
With the sentencing done, various nubbels are ceremoniously burned around the city of Cologne marking the end of Carnival. People stand around and sing away their final free moments before becoming good Lenten children.
When Is Cologne Carnival Celebrated
The Cologne Carnival is a carnival that takes place every year in Cologne, Germany. Traditionally, the “fifth season” is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of the 11th month November.
Other Things To Do In Cologne
Make your Carnival vacation even sweeter with a trip to Cologne’s Chocolate Museum. While still snacking on the bags of extra fine chocolates, truffles, and pastries that your family will have bought, head on over to the Cologne Zoological Garden and let your kids revel in animal love (but make sure to put away the chocolate first!).
Cologne Germany is full of great things to do – it just depends on how much time you have.
How To Get To Cologne Carnival
There are no nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Cologne, Germany (CGN) so this can be your family’s opportunity to make another shorter trip on your way there by extending your layover.
An excellent discount site for flights (and cars, hotels) is Expedia! This is where we start our research for the best deals!
If you’d like to be in the know for exclusive discounts to fly anywhere in the world, check out Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights). Their website shows current deals, and they send emails when they find new deals. Try out their free 7-day membership to save BIG money on flights. I’m not kidding. They have the best deals out there and we’ve tried them all, or so it seems. There’s no need to buy a membership (you’ll still have access to great deals with their free trial).
Where To Stay In Cologne
The city of Cologne has some great accommodations but since we had a rental car, we didn’t mind staying just outside of town (about 20 minutes). The Rhein River Guesthouse was perfect for us – complete with a lake, free-roaming peacocks, and a delightful German breakfast.
Which Carnival Celebration Is Right For Your Family
These are the greatest cities in Europe for your family to enjoy the Carnival celebrations. It’s also an opportunity to learn about the historical origin of each festival.
Although your family may not think you have the time to go Carnival hopping, I will mention that Europe has a fantastic public transit system with trains and buses that make travel around the continent exceptionally easy.
Budget Considerations
The cost of living in Europe is generally less expensive than what the average American family spends. However, trip costs can easily add up on vacation. Stick to guesthouses or small B&Bs outside of the city when possible and avoid big-name restaurants – the mom and pop joints will give you a heartier meal at a better price anyway.
Don’t forget to consider the costs of costumes, party regalia, museum passes, and attraction tickets when planning your Carnival budget.
Schedule Your Visit Ahead Of Time
Be sure to explore the schedule of events for whichever European city you decide to experience Carnival to help plan day trips, kid stops, meals, and other attractions.
How To Maintain Your Joy Throughout Carnevale
Carnival season is such an amazing time to spend with our kids and loved ones but be sure to reserve enough time each day away from the parties and spectacles to unwind and relax together.
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