Festival Fun

On weekends, leaving Marseille to visit the surrounding areas has become a favourite pastime of mine and my friends. On a simple 20 minute ride, you can visit the seaside village of Cassis, or within half an hour, you might find the beaches of Bandol.

The Float of Fire (and confetti)

Last weekend, my friends and I decided to visit La Ciotat, a cheap train ticket away, for an afternoon of exploring. Whilst small, the town was supposed to be a mix between French traditions, docklands and some natural beauty, all of which were delivered as promised.

However, the highlight of the weekend was certainly stumbling upon the Carnaval that was held in the town this weekend. Since we have not read about the event beforehand, and simply picked our destination that morning, it was an unforgettable and authentic experience that you wouldn’t get from the tour books.

Venetian masks

Carnaval is a popular festival to mark the start of lent or the Easter period in many cities across Europe, although its presence in the south of France is not common.

The African history section

As such, the festival at La Ciotat is still a recent introduction to the social calendar, but a date that many enjoy. Each year has a different theme and 2015 saw “Raconte moi une histoire” – Tell me a story - as the designated subject.

Clubs, societies and groups throughout La Ciotat and other local towns designed different floats and costumes to inspire and impress the jubilant crowds who lined the docks in eager anticipation. From the Knights of the Round Table, watched over by a 15 foot Merlin, to Venetian kings and queens, and African dancers, the streets were soon alive with music and colour and my friends and I were quickly covered in confetti.

Both children on the street and performers in the parade threw balloons, confetti, string and all manner of decorations in a multi-coloured frenzy that later washed into the harbour.

The parade lasted for over 20 minutes and was eagerly cheered on by hundreds of spectators.

Being completely taken off guard, the festivities provided a jovial surprise and were a perfect souvenir of the little town. The beaches here are small, but golden, and the cranes around the docks still cast a metallic shadow, but the day was certainly one of the more memorable from recent trips.

Covered in confetti