The Carnaval of Limoux in Languedoc-Roussillon runs from January 30th to April 10th, 2011, making it the world’s longest running carnival. It takes place every Saturday and Sunday at 11am, 4:30pm and 10pm and on Mardi Gras in the Place de la Republique.
But as they stress, this is not a carnival like the others. What they have presented over the decades is a real folklore celebration. So the spectator becomes part of the performance, and it is sometimes slightly sinister, sometimes hilarious. But it is different.
Bands playing traditional music and playing trumpets, clarinets, basses, double basses and bass drums are led by the bandes de carnavaliers (bands of revelers) through the arcades of this pretty and ancient town. The traditional costumes are spectacular and include the Pierrot, the goudil which can run from the ordinary to the most noble, though always with a tongue-in-cheek touch, and the classic black domino, decorated with satin bands of bright sparkling colors.
