Event: Belgium - Aalst

Aalst Carnival

When:	Feb 2008 (annual)
Where:	Aalst
Costs:	Free
Opening Hours:	Daily from 1pm

Although less well-known than its counterpart in Binche, the Aalst Carnival is no less spectacular or surprising for it. A three-day extravaganza, it allows inhabitants and tourists alike to vent the frustrations pent up during the long winter months in a burst of colour and music.

The carnival begins with a procession, in which the locals present their own interpretation of the previous year's events. Expect large-scale caricatures and plenty of good old slapstick comedy, even if some of the more local intrigue may be slightly obscure! The procession is repeated on the second day, culminating this time in a frenzy of onion throwing. Don't worry about tears and evil smells: the real thing was replaced years ago by confectionery imitating the shape of the pungent bulb. The flying onions carry numbers, which could enable a lucky winner to walk home with the prized "golden onion" after the concluding lottery.

The excitement isn't over yet: the afternoon brings further insanity with the arrival of the Gilles d'Aalst. Like their peers in Binche, these comedy figures are swathed in padded straw costumes, but they are unique in that they (literally) sweep the audience off their feet during the entertaining danse du balai, or broom dance, which carries on until evening.

Audience participation continues on the following day as the Voil Jeannetten hit the town in their thousands. Dressing up - or rather cross-dressing - is the name of the game here as men don drag and women wear beards to trawl through the streets. The transvestites take it upon themselves to copiously insult onlookers, giving them a hefty dose of Flemish slang to get everyone into the spirit of things. Suitably revved up, the crowd then parties until nightfall.

This well-kept secret is a brilliant example of a spirit that the Belgians keep well hidden. Shrinking violets need not apply!