Carnaval de Gonesse

The Carnaval de Gonesse: the festival of bread and colors

The Carnaval de Gonesse takes place in a city steeped in history: Gonesse has been known since the Middle Ages for the exceptional quality of its bread, produced from the wheat of the fertile agricultural plateau of the Pays de France. The « pain de Gonesse » was so renowned that bakers from Gonesse had the privilege of selling their bread in Paris, and it was served at the king's table. This baking tradition is still celebrated today during local festivals.

The Gonesse carnival is part of this tradition of popular festivals rooted in the territory. Every spring, the city transforms into a street theater for a festive parade that mobilizes local associations, schools, and families.

A parade in the heart of the Pays de France

The carnival parade crosses the streets of the Gonesse city center, passing in front of the Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul church — a beautiful Gothic building from the 12th and 13th centuries — and enlivening the squares and shopping streets. The costumed participants and decorated floats offer a colorful spectacle that contrasts with the agricultural expanses of the surrounding plateau.

A carnival in eastern Val-d'Oise

Located in the eastern part of Val-d'Oise, near Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport, Gonesse occupies a unique geographical position. A dynamic and popular city of 27,000 inhabitants, it has a rich associative life that fuels cultural initiatives, of which the carnival is one of the most visible manifestations.

Entertainment and conviviality

The Carnaval de Gonesse is designed as a festival open to all: free admission, free entertainment for children, food stalls, and association stands. The day often concludes with a small party in an open space or a gymnasium depending on the weather conditions.