Most colourful party of the year
Carnival is undoubtedly the most colourful time to visit Halle. Halle Carnival has been going for over six centuries. Since 1932, a carnival parade has been held every year, with groups in brightly coloured fancy dress and beautifully decorated chars or carts. Halle Carnival has grown to become one of the biggest carnivals in the country.
Halle boasts several dozen carnival groups, the largest of which have between 50 and 80 members. On top of that, there are a dozen orders, including the Halse Dansmariekes, who escort the prince's cart, the Orde der Prinsessen and the Orde van Tastendeuvel, the associations of the carnival princesses and princes respectively. Halle also has two groups of Gilles: de Gilles and Pierrots of Greater Halle and the Gilles and Paysannes of Sint-Rochus.
Halle Carnival takes place midway through Lent and lasts for three days. Permanent fixtures include the Deuvelstoet parade on Saturday, the candle ceremony by the Gilles on Sunday morning, the carnival revue at the Town Hall, the carnival parade on Sunday afternoon, the light parade on Sunday evening, the krotten parade on Monday, the krottenworp on Monday evening, during which caramel sweets are thrown out of windows on Grote Markt — and the carnival bonfire to round it all off!
If that wasn't enough, carnival in Halle is by no means limited to the days around Mid-Lent: events take place all year round in the run-up to the carnival weekend, such as the election of the princes and the children's carnival. Behind the screens too, work on the impressive chars and stunning costumes takes place over a matter of months.
You do not need an admission ticket to attend this event.
From Saturday, March 18 to Monday, March 20, 2023.
