The King of Beasts will be there, from Friday evening until February 27. Deprived of release due to the pandemic last year, his majesty will parade in a renewed configuration around Place Masséna and adapted to the health constraints that persist. Just before the curtain rises on this first edition of the Nice Carnival since 2020 and its aborted version,20 minutes took stock with the director of the event Caroline Constantin.
A “carnival of reunion” despite the epidemic
“No”, for the patroness of this 2022 edition, the circulation of the virus, still active, has not thwarted the ambitions of the city to offer an event more open to locals. “The creation of the Carnival Village [avec des animations gratuites sur la place Général Leclerc de la promenade du Paillon]a few floats exhibited in town, events organized in the districts, free concerts at the Opéra de Nice as well as the maintenance of free admission if you show up in disguise from head to toe, make it possible to ensure the strong theme for this edition, that of the “Carnival of reunions” ”, assures Caroline Constantin.
A new course, especially for flower battles
So there is something new on Place Masséna. “We have changed the orientation of the stands of the small velum [au niveau des arcades] and this allows us to offer an incredible stage on which the artists and the know-how of our revelers are highlighted, continues the manager. We offer them an exceptional playground, these stands facing our statue of Apollo and a breakthrough on the sea. Incomparable souvenir photo! With this new configuration, the organizers have decided to reverse the direction of the corsos. On Place Massena, the procession will now move north. “And, for the first time, the tanks of the flower battles will all meet in a large round on the Masséna space”, she also indicates. With another novelty: the Nissadrome, a green and flowery promenade that will be planted in the middle of the square.
Sanitary rules, also valid for those who make the Carnival
The organizers will enforce “the government laws in force to date”. The mask will be compulsory throughout the carnival enclosure even if outdoors and the vaccination pass will be checked at all entrances. And “the entire artistic team, guides, drivers, musicians, reception agents, filtering agents are also all subject to verification of the pass”, also notes Caroline Constantin. Only artists who walk around will not be required to wear a mask.
A gauge that will evolve
Friday at 6.30 p.m., for the opening ceremony accessible free of charge to the people of Nice (invitations to the Paillon ticket office), there will be 5,000 seats. For the parades scheduled for February 12 and 15, 7,345 will be open. “From February 16, and in accordance with government announcements on the gradual lifting of health restrictions, pedestrian zones will be open on Masséna, Verdun and Promenade, explains the manager. With additional entrances for the public: Gioffredo, West and East Promenade. »