Each year the town of Binche in Belgium celebrates carnival with a very elaborate parade on Fat Sunday. We went last year and had a lot of fun and got some great photos. So we decided to try again this year.
The costumes were equally as entertaining as last year and completely different. This event is said to date back as far as 1549 and is actually a catholic event, ending one day before ash Wednesday.
These three gilles (clown-like performers) were part of one group. The gilles are the principal performers. They march/dance around the town in groups to the beat of a drum. Each group must have a drummer to participate in the parade.
The crowd was much bigger this year. We could hardly walk down the street.
On Fat Tuesday, the gilles dress again and eat oysters and champaigne for breakfast. At the end of the parade, blood oranges are thrown at the crowds.
Two from the harlequin group.
Me, dancing with the cats!
A few more of our favorites:
If you look closely, you will see all of the "gilles" are men!
As for the children, you will see both boys and girls dressed. They are not part of the formal parades, but some are equally as elaborate.
He's a cutie.
Unfortunately, our Belgian rain showed up.
Like the little one in this photo…
We were ready to go home when it started raining hard.
Until next year….
The XtraSuitcase 
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