Carnival is celebrated just before the 40 days of Lent. Most Andalucian towns stage some kind of parade with dancing, firework displays and a “Carnival Queen” contest. The Carnival centres around Shrove Tuesday and most towns celebrate the carnival with processions either the weekend before or after. In larger towns and cities, the festivities can last all week. Cádiz, which copied the famous Venice carnival of the 16th century, is one of the most lively and colourful in Spain.
