Joigny Carnival

The Joigny Carnival, a Popular and Colorful Festival

The Joigny Carnival is one of the unmissable festive events on the Yonne calendar. Every year in March, this medieval town on the edge of Burgundy adorns itself in its finest colors to host a parade of floats, costumed groups, and musical entertainment that delights both young and old.

A Parade in a Medieval Setting

The procession sets off in the early afternoon from the town hall square, Place du Pilori, and winds through the streets of Joigny's historic center. The town, perched on the hills overlooking the Yonne, offers a remarkable setting with its half-timbered houses and cobbled alleys. The floats, often elaborate with popular or humorous themes of the year, compete in imagination and creativity.

Floats, Costumes, and Entertainment

Over the years, the carnival has developed its own identity, blending fantasy worlds, cinematic references, and musical themes. Associations, schools, and citizen groups actively participate in building the floats and creating the costumes, making this event a true collective work.

• Parade of decorated floats by local associations and schools
• Costumed groups on various themes
• Musical entertainment throughout the route
• Confetti and streamers for a guaranteed festive atmosphere
• Burning of Monsieur Carnaval, the highlight of the day

The Tradition of Monsieur Carnaval

As French carnival tradition dictates, the day concludes with the symbolic burning of Monsieur Carnaval, a giant effigy embodying all the ills and troubles of the past year. This spectacular blaze, cheered by the crowd, marks the official end of the carnival and the triumph of gaiety over gloom.

A Friendly and Family Event

After the parade, the municipality traditionally offers a collation in the town hall rooms, extending the conviviality in a warm spirit. The Joigny Carnival is above all a popular and accessible festival for everyone, bringing together residents and visitors in a shared mood of good cheer. Free entry, free participation for the public.

Joigny, labeled "City of Art and History", thus combines the richness of its medieval heritage with the vitality of a traditional festival rooted in Burgundian local life.