Aalst Carnival

• Location: Aalst, Belgium

• Category: True Carnival

• Dates/Time: Three days before Ash Wednesday (Sunday to Tuesday)

• Duration: 3 days

• Attendance: Around 100,000 attendees annually

• Venue: City center and main streets of Aalst

• Organizer: City of Aalst and local carnival associations

• Established: 15th century origins; formalized in the 19th century

• Symbolic or Satirical Content: High

• Cultural or Ritual Roots: Yes

• Global or Migrant Influence: Low

Participation Tips

• Participation Type: Participatory

• Participation Level (Scale): 5/5

• Requires Costume to Join: No, but satire and exaggeration are key elements

• Family-Friendly: Partially

• LGBTQ+ Inclusive: Yes