Carnival of Binche an event not to be missed

February 22-24, 2009

Belgium's most famous carnival, the carnival in Binche, attracts thousands of visitors annually. This colorful event, now on UNESCO Heritage list, is not to be missed.

Shrove Sunday: colourful day where the future Gilles giants wear fancy costumes. Parade at 3 pm. Until the early hours, the drums resound all over town.

Shrove Monday: children's parade where the violas are played all morning long. Children's "Rondeau of Friendship" on the Grand'Place. Fireworks at 7.30 pm.

Shrove Tuesday: Start of the festivities at daybreak. The Gilles entertain the town from 9 am. Parade at 3 pm. The Gilles show off their hats and throw oranges. In the evening there will be a final rondeau at 7.30 pm and a fireworks display in the city centre.

Mardi Gras is the only day one sees the "Gilles" in their various rites from daybreak to the midnight fireworks ending the carnival.

The "Gille" is a local carnival character whose hay-colored costume decorated with appliqued lions, crowns and stars in the Belgian colors of red, yellow and black is stuffed with hay and belted with heavy, jangling bells.

Most impressive is the white feathered headdress, as much as four feet tall and weighing up to 7 pounds, that completes the costume.

Some 800 men and boys of the town throng Binche's Grand'Place and toss oranges to the spectators. More information can be obtained by email.

Binche is a small town in the Belgian Province of Hainaut about 34 miles south of Brussels. It has a very interesting Carnival and Mask Museum whose 25 rooms offer a spectacular illustration of this theme in the life of man.

Carnival and Mask Museum of Binche, rue Saint Moustier, 10 - B-7130 Binche.  Tel: (3264) 33- 5741 - Fax: (3264) 34-1430.  Entrance Fee: 4 Euro for adults and 2 Euro for children.  

More Carnivals in Brussels and French-speaking Belgium