Flower parades are parades in which the floats, vehicles, and/or boats are decorated or covered in flowers. They often include other elements like marching bands and peoples in costumes. Famous flower parades are held in several European countries, including the Netherlands (where they have been recognized as intangible heritage of humanity), Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Hungary. One of the biggest and most colorful flower processions in France is held every August in Sélestat.
Sélestat is a commune in Alsace known for its rich cultural heritage, which includes two remarkable medieval churches, the renowned Humanist Library (referred to as one of the three great treasures of Alsace), and several important cultural events, including a biennale (Biennale d’Art Contemporain de Sélestat), a carnival procession, and a flower parade.
The Sélestat Flower Parade (Corso Fleuri de Sélestat) was inaugurated in 1927 by a local gardening association that organized a procession featuring flowers, fruit and vegetables to promote the creation of small gardens. But the event really took off in 1929 thanks to Mayor Auguste Bronner, who began its transformation it into the present-day flower parade. The annual theme was added to the event in 1954, and the second nighttime procession was held for the first time in 1960.
The Sélestat Flower Parade takes place on the second Saturday of August. The floats participating in the parade are decorated exclusively with dahlias according to a theme that changes every year. For example, the 2024 parade focused on the Olympic Games due to taking place during the Paris Summer Olympics. Every year, more than 500,000 dahlias are used to decorate the twelve floats participating in the parade. This particular flower was chosen for several reasons: it has an exceptional range of shapes and colors, is easy to work with, and stays fresh for a long time. The floats are decorated in the morning, and spectators can take a peak at the process.
During the event, two floral processions are organized: the first in the afternoon, and the second at nightfall. Both processions feature a dozen floats covered in fresh dahlias of various colors and no fewer than 500 musicians, dancers, street performers, and folk groups. Admission to the parade is free, but spectators can reserve paid grandstand seats (for one or both processions) if they want to have a better view.
Other events accompanying the flower parade include open-air concerts, sporting events, a Dahlia ball, a craft market, a vintage car exhibition, a wine fair, special activities for children, and fireworks displays. The festivities continue on Sunday, although on a smaller scale, and visitors can take a closer look at the floats that are exhibited during the day.
Photo: selestat.fr
