Numerous visitors celebrate the groups and dancers at the big carnival parade Photo: AFP
From BZ/dpa
The big parade for the Carnival of Cultures has been rolling through Berlin-Kreuzberg since Sunday noon.
Around 50 groups and cars gradually made their way from Gneisenaustrasse towards Hermannplatz, the police said on Twitter on Sunday.
Spectators stood tightly packed along the route to take a look at the elaborate costumes of the around 2,500 dancers. It was very crowded at first, especially at the starting point.
Around 2500 dancers are taking part this time Photo: AFP
It is the first time after a three-year pandemic break that the carnival floats are driving through the city again. For cost reasons, the move this year will be a little smaller.
In the years before the pandemic, around 90 groups were on the road. The parade is considered the highlight of the four-day city festival.
Members of the “Maracatu Meeting” group dance during the parade Photo: dpa
Around half a million spectators were expected to attend the 25th edition of the Carnival of Cultures.
The co-director of the festival, Geraldine Hepp, drew an initial positive conclusion. “The street festival has been going well so far, we have a nice stage program,” she said. And: “I didn’t expect to be so emotional. The vibe is what we do it all for. What the communities create here is a gift for the city.”
Members of Grupo Chile Photo: dpa
Hepp is organizing the Carnival of Cultures for the first time this year alongside Aissatou Binger.