Aalst Carnival

Origins and civic history

The roots of the carnival reach back to the Middle Ages. Processions known as cavalcades occurred in Aalst from 1851 onward, though early editions lacked city government oversight. Official numbering began in 1923, when the municipal council took over event organisation. The role of Prince Carnival was introduced in 1953, creating an elected figurehead who symbolically governs the city during the festival. A participant who wins election as Prince in three different years achieves the title of Emperor Carnival. Since 1970, entry rules require that all large float groups originate strictly within Aalst itself, maintaining an emphasis on local community participation.

Parades and daily customs

Festivities begin on Saturday evening with a comedic city council session, during which Prince Carnival receives the municipal key and local leaders are mocked in the Aalst dialect. On Sunday, tens of thousands of spectators arrive for the main parade, which features over one hundred large floats alongside smaller satirical groups. Monday brings a more relaxed parade, followed by the traditional Broom Dance performed by the Gilles of Aalst. Later that evening, officials throw onion-shaped sweets from the town hall balcony, including numbered candies for prizes and a golden onion. Celebrations continue across public squares into the night.

Costumes and social parody

Satire shapes every aspect of the carnival. On Tuesday, participants march in the Voil Jeanetten parade, where men dress in women's clothing. This custom comes from the town's working-class past, when poorer men could not afford elaborate costumes and instead wore their wives' worn outfits. Marchers carry humorous props such as strollers, bird cages, smoked herrings, and battered umbrellas. Unfiltered parody has also brought international controversy over provocative caricatures in the floats, prompting the city in 2019 to request its own removal from the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list.

How Aalst Carnival is kept

The festival runs for three days prior to Ash Wednesday. On Saturday night, Prince Carnival takes symbolic control of the city at a humorous council gathering. Sunday features the grand street parade of more than one hundred local floats. Monday includes a second parade, a Broom Dance by the Gilles, and a candy toss from the town hall balcony. On Tuesday, men don women's attire for the Voil Jeanetten march. The carnival concludes Tuesday night when a giant effigy is set alight amid loud whistling and cheering, followed by final celebrations across town squares and cafés.

When and where

The carnival is celebrated annually across the three days preceding Ash Wednesday, which places it in February or March depending on the religious calendar. Preliminary events begin on the preceding Saturday evening and conclude on Shrove Tuesday night.

The celebration takes place in the city of Aalst, in the East Flanders province of Belgium. Parades and gatherings move through the main town squares, local streets, the De Werf cultural centre, and neighbourhood cafés.

What Aalst Carnival means

The event represents a temporary inversion of social hierarchy through humour and parody. By transferring authority to Prince Carnival and parodying local politicians, citizens playfully challenge civic power. The Tuesday cross-dressing march honours historical working-class ingenuity during difficult economic times, while the Tuesday night effigy burning marks the emotional conclusion of festive excess before Lent.

On the table

• Onion-sized candies

Days Aalst Carnival is marked

Questions people ask about Aalst Carnival

See also

Mardi GrasA festive day of parades and rich foods marking the final celebration before the Christian fasting season of Lent beginsSt. Martin's DayA November feast of lantern walks, bonfires, roast goose and new wineFestivity of Saint BlaiseAn annual patron saint festival in Dubrovnik with processions, relics and dovesRosenmontagThe peak of German carnival, celebrated with satirical street parades and sweets

Good reading and sources

• Belgian city of Aalst says anti-Semitic parade 'just fun'BBC, Article
• Belgian city of Aalst says anti-Semitic parade 'just fun'BBC, Article

• Carnival of Aalst on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.