Huge crowd of 750,000 individuals participates in the Carnival of Cultures parade in Berlin.
Let's Jumpstart the Carnival in a Brand New Spot!
Fast-paced and vibrant as ever, the Carnival of Cultures makes its debut at Friedrichshain - a shift from its traditional stomping ground. This year, the 30-year-old extravaganza dances its way down a fresh route.
A record-breaking 750,000 spectators witnessed this multicultural spectacle, parading along the once-prestigious DDR boulevards, Frankfurter Allee and Karl-Marx-Allee, as per organizers.
A whopping 68 groups with around 4,000 participants grooved, drummed, or serenaded their way through the streets. Glitzy costumes, a riot of colors, and a symphony of international tunes painted the street panorama.
Grooving in Unison Along the Carnival Route
Eager enthusiasts flocked as early as morning, staking claim to prime spots on the parade route, armed with supplies and rain gear. The sky wept briefly before the parade began, but it held off for most of the day, with only an evening shower and some gusty winds making an appearance.
Para-watchers followed the parade closely, the energy was infectious, with many joining the dance party. Speakers scattered along the route belted, "Let's dance against racism."
Anna-Maria Seifert, co-leader of the Carnival of Cultures, cheered, "I get this incredible vibe - the audience seems delightfully mixed: Kreuzberg, East, Brandenburg." Positive feedback about the new route was plentiful.
The event buzzed with peace and liveliness, with no major disturbances reported. However, around 30 brief arrests were made due to minor transgressions such as verbal altercations, physical assaults, and sexual misconduct, as a police representative shared shortly past 11 PM.
1,500 Police Officers on Duty
The area was barricaded. Safety measures included barriers on access roads and side streets to shield visitors from possible ramming attacks or terrorist incidents.
In the lead-up to the parade, over 125 illegally parked vehicles were towed away. Roads were controlled from dawn, as the police spokesperson said.
The police safeguarded the carnival on Sunday with a force of around 1,500 officers. Additional support came from regional police forces, including Brandenburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony.
The Carnival's Post-Parade Bash in Kreuzberg
Last year, around 1.1 million revelers celebrated the four-day festival, with 650,000 gathering for the parade. The fact that this year's parade, despite the new location, drew in around 100,000 more attendees is a welcomed delight, a Carnival of Cultures spokesperson added.
The police did not provide precise numbers but hinted at figures in the "six-figure range".
The street festival around the Blücherplatz in Kreuzberg is still on until Pentecost Monday.
[4] The new parade route starts at Ringcenter on Proskauer Straße and ends near Kino International in Mitte.[5] The Carnival of Cultures is the largest street festival in Germany, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors. The event typically features over 5,000 participants from more than 70 nations, promoting cultural diversity and social justice.
The Carnival of Cultures, having moved to Friedrichshain, presents an exciting blend of 'lifestyle' and 'home-and-garden', as creative and colorful participants transform the streets into a lively 'travel' destination, offering a taste of various cultures. After the vibrant parade, the celebration continues in Kreuzberg, inviting everyone to immerse themselves in this cultural melting pot until Pentecost Monday.
