‘Carnival 2021 will not be exuberant, but it will be an experience’ | Inland

“We have to reconsider, folks,” said Van de Laar during a meeting that was actually planned in the stadium of Willem II in Tilburg, but was moved to the internet due to the tightened corona rules. “He will not be those big gatherings.” However, that does not immediately mean that the year 2021 has to do without carnival. Numerous ideas have already been put forward from the associations to be able to organize something in a responsible manner, it became clear.

Decorating streets

Some things are possible anyway, regardless of the rules in force in mid-February: decorating streets, putting floats in squares, playing carnival music through speakers, holding exhibitions in the open air or dressing up shop windows is always possible. “That gives atmosphere to your city,” said the chairman of the BCF.

Associations are currently still mainly full of questions, it turned out during the meeting, in which more than a hundred representatives of carnival associations participated. For example, many wonder what the rules will look like in February and whether it will be possible to organize physical activities at all. The limits within which this is possible will depend on the current emergency ordinance, officials from the three Brabant security regions once again made clear. At the moment, this means, for example, that no more than thirty people are allowed to attend meetings.

Time slots

Working with time slots could offer a solution, said Van de Laar. Another option mentioned during the meeting is to organize a parade without an audience, for example. People can then watch the floats from home via a live stream. The same is possible, for example, with performances or important local rituals, such as the symbolic funeral of farmer Knillis, which invariably ends the carnival in Den Bosch (Oeteldonk).

The presidents of the security regions already made it clear last week that traditional large-scale parties are not possible. They invited the associations to come up with alternatives. That process has now been set in motion. Some associations, such as CV de Wallepikkers from Zaltbommel (Mispelgat) organize a summer carnival. Associations must submit their plans for February at the beginning of December.

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