The carnival season is igniting the vibrant streets of two communities, Grand-Fort-Philippe and Gravelines, with exciting events lined up for March 4, 2025. This year’s festivals promise to bring families together for colorful parades, traditional culinary delights, and celebrations filled with laughter and joy.
Starting with Grand-Fort-Philippe, the local carnival is witnessing exponential popularity growth. Emmanuel Palladino, the drum major of the Flibustiers association, shared, "We’re seeing more and more people attending each year, roughly around 1,000!" This increase reflects the community's enthusiasm as locals and even visitors from Gravelines flock to enjoy the festivities. Events will kick off early, as giant puppets and floats crafted by residents will grace the streets from the morning.
The centerpiece of the Grand-Fort-Philippe carnival is the Mardi Gras band set to depart from the Place des Sports at 6 PM. Enthusiastic carnival-goers will parade through the town, eventually making their way to the port, where onlookers can witness the exciting traditional herring toss from the town hall. The fun-filled day wraps with the ceremonial burning of the giants, bringing the day to a vibrant close. "The carnival here is deeply rooted, and we pride ourselves on our family-friendly atmosphere with many children participating," remarked Cô Zeinlle, another drum major involved.
Simultaneously, Gravelines will also witness its own celebration featuring two main events, one hosted by Les Huttes and another by Petit-Fort-Philippe. This dual celebration is not marked by rivalry; rather, both communities have developed their own unique traditions over the years. Jérôme Deroi, president of the P’tits Baigneurs association, which manages the Petit-Fort-Philippe event, stated, "It's been like this for years; there’s no rivalry, just two hamlets organizing their carnivals." Both communities work collaboratively to bring the spirited celebrations to life.
The Petit-Fort-Philippe carnival will kick off from Boulevard de l'Est at 6 PM, starting with the procession led by the Père Tranquille. The much-anticipated burning of the M’Hareng effigy is slated for approximately 7 PM at Place Calmette. Following close behind, the Huttes carnival will commence at 5:30 PM, led by the drum major José Paque, starting at the foyer du Béguinage. At around 7:30 PM, the Zoul'Huttes effigy will be ceremoniously burned at Place Gustave Houriez.
Each attendees' experience is enriched with the engaging distribution of candies and hot chocolate provided by local associations, ensuring children participate and learn the traditions behind such festivities. "They learn the basics of carnival before attending the larger parades of Gravelines or Dunkirk later," Deroi explained, emphasizing the importance of nurturing local traditions with the younger generations.
With both communities ready to embrace this year’s celebrations, the excitement is infectious, and the promise of family-oriented fun is at the forefront. The festivities also serve as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage, encouraging families and friends to enjoy the vibrancy of local customs together. So, whether one joins the parade at Grand-Fort-Philippe or heads to the events at Petit-Fort-Philippe or Les Huttes, the joyous spirit of the carnival is sure to uplift and entertain all attendees!