The Carnival has a long tradition on the Riviera, with the Carnival of Nice and the Lemon Festival (Festa dei Limoni) of Menton, that’s why the Flower Parade is often known as the Carnival of San Remo.
The Flower Parade (Corso Fiorito) of San Remo has many analogies with the traditional Carnival: the parade of allegorical floats, here are created with flowers, spaced by marching bands and folk groups.
Taking place in a period that differs from the traditional period of Carnival, it doesn’t have the accompaniment of children in costume, streamers and confetti.
In effect there are some differences: since its inception the parade of the flowered floats wasn’t conceived as the Carnival of San Remo, but rather as an elegant showcase of the most beautiful flower production of the city. Moreover mid February was already permanently occupied by the more important Festival of The Italian Song , therefore the Flower Parade of San Remo had to cut out a different date, first on late January and now on the second half of March.
Not a problem at all, because thanks to this new arrangement, the flower Parade represents an unique event that deserves to be lived as a wonderful, carefree day of feast, with Spring just around the corner.