Top up the masks and parade of joy for the new Lunel carnival

Sonia Mokaddem et Jennifer Lequet, chevilles ouvrières de l’événement. A. C.

Saturday March 23, all generations from here and elsewhere are expected in the heart of the city, from 2 p.m., to experience this rebirth.

We didn't go looking for carbon 14 to date the previous edition but not far off! Because if some remember well a carnival in Lunel, few are able to say when it animated, for the last time, the streets of the town.

Twenty years, thirty years… Whatever! And if there is a proverb that, sometimes, can turn out to be a lie, it is the one that “Everything has an end”. It is even a renaissance that the City of Lunel is proposing, in particular the deputy for children and youth Sonia Mokaddem and the deputy director of the sport, youth and community life department Jennifer Lequet, in organizing its first big carnival, Saturday March 23, in the heart of the city of Pescalune.

Let the Lunelois make it their own

Wanted from the start of the Soujol mandate but prevented by various difficult contexts since 2020, the animation will resume its rights, from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., in a version worthy of events of the genre .

"For some time, carnival was only scheduled in primary schools. We wanted to open it to everyone, from Lunel and outside, to make it an event that will last over time", underlines Sonia Mokaddem, confident of her move and "proud to see the investment of municipal services and city associations (around twenty at total, all sectors combined, Editor's note) in such a short time".

A quick infatuation

The motivation of the volunteers to bring about this large-scale event in barely three months and the choice of the legend of Pescalune as a common thread that we will find every year is not the same. are probably not foreign to it.

"As soon as the date was set, mobilization took place on all levels, continues Jennifer Lequet. There is already an upstream membership and we really hope that in the end, the people of Lunel will make it their own", continues the deputy director of the sport, youth and community life department, who even launches the idea, "why not, of seeing an association “Carnal de Lunel&rdquo ; create yourself one day".

The parade route

If it is requested that you come disguised according to the legend of Pescalune, the common thread of carnival, you can also dress up as you wish.

The meeting, set for Saturday March 23, at 2 p.m., on Allée Baroncelli, in front of the entrance to Hugo Park, will start with an hour of preparation before starting. rsquo;starts the parade.

It will take the Place de la République (first highlight at the location of the Pescalune statue, currently being renovated) to the Statue of Liberty roundabout (second highlight), then boulevard de la République, rue de Verdun (station), avenue Victor-Hugo with a stop in front of the town hall (third highlight).

It will continue on boulevard Lafayette, then rue Marx-Dormoy, rue Sadi-Carnot and rue de la Libération to return to the starting point via Place de la République. The carnival will continue in the park until around 5:30 p.m. and the party will continue until the evening with bodega, music and inflatable structures for the little ones.

500 kg of confetti already delivered to the town hall!

We are not there yet. Today is the time for volunteers and delicate little hands who have the patience to fill bags with confetti since the municipality was delivered the 500 kg (!) which will be distributed free this Saturday March 23 at the ;rsquo;occasion of the parade.
Let lovers of the environment not take the trouble to be offended already: the Nicollin company will very quickly clean up the millions of little pieces of paper thrown in the air and dropped on the pavement…

There are also these nimble fingers who have been making, for weeks, crepe paper flowers and other objects which will highlight and color the essential floats, of which there are nine, including five from the municipality.

Highlights on the 2 km course

There will also be highlights throughout the route, the start and finish of which will be on Allée Baroncelli, in front of the entrance to Parc Jean-Hugo (read in box), for a length of 2 km and two hours of wandering.

"We cannot reveal everything and keep a minimum of surprises but breaks enhanced with animations are planned occasionally on the route", are the two main leaders of the project. It is whispered that the marriage of Albin and Ninon, the lovers of the legend of Pescalune, could be celebrated on the square in front of the town hall.

As well as a choreography on La Cheu Cheu synchro with certain well-known faces of the city will be performed on the square of the Republic. We're enjoying it in advance!

Music, makeup and bodega

Finally, a carnival without music and without makeup doesn't mean much. A happy responsibility that will fall to the batucada Les Sambaktous, from Clarensac, and the DJs from La Jeunesse lunelloise.

The latter will also run the bodega within the Jean-Hugo park which will open at the end of the parade and will offer sweet, savory and drinks until around 10 p.m. to slide towards the first night of the first day of the new carnival.

Contacts: Sports, youth and community life service at 04 67 87 83 25 and at vie-associative@ville-lunel.fr