Carnival Leskovac

The Leskovac Carnival is an event that has been held since 2006 in the center of Leskovac, and the intention is to revive the memory of the Easter processions that moved through the streets of Leskovac in the 1930s. Today, the Leskovac Carnival is one of the most visited events in Serbia.

The idea to design the carnival was found in the discreet intention to move the charm of carnival parties to the city streets and to resemble distant Rio, the Mediterranean, masquerades, the beauty of spacious squares with jugglers, fire eaters, miracles, magicians, guardians of tradition. ..

Also, the native history and customs of the south of Serbia, which include calendars, dodols, lazarice and queens, inspired the people of Leskovac to organize several carnivals in the twenties and thirties of the last century. The first carnival in Leskovac was organized in 1929, on the theme of the Marriage of Kraljevic Marko.

Long after that, during the 2006 Roštiljijada, the Carnival was added as a pre-event. The second carnival was interrupted due to the large number of spectators, which numbered over 50,000 that evening, because the procession could not make its way to the main stage.

With the fourth carnival, the Leskovac Carnival, he became a member of the FECC. The route was changed, the Carnival was profiled into a special six-day event to which were added: Carnival of the Third Age, Children's Carnival, Big Masquerade, Carnival Games on Water, Eco Carnival, Carnival of tattoos, Face & Body painting, pets, fire festivals, majorettes, street entertainers and jugglers, old-timers ... Then, there is the Carnival Colony, carnival drawing on the sidewalk, mask making workshops, barrel races, carnival concerts and exhibitions ... Over two thousand participants and a huge number of spectators make Leskovac in those days it looked like a great tourist capital.

Carnival is a holiday of joy, variety, serenity, fun and youth. That is why it begins with the carnival round, the anthem of the FECC and the Leskovac Carnival, and ends with a big fireworks display and a carnival ball under masks.

Carnival days, which are the prelude to the big carnival, have Face & Body painting and Fire Festival. It is a multi-hour program that begins with painting the face and body. The reconstruction of the carnival customs of this area follows, which is characterized by skipping the "caravan". The program continues with songs by jugglers and fire eaters who come from several cities in Serbia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania and other countries. After their songs, mini fireworks are prepared as an introduction to the great Carnival fireworks. It is a program of illuminations - sprinklers, strings, firecrackers, confetti ... In the end, small lanterns are used to print and send messages of love, tenderness, friendship.

Fifty attractive groups from more than ten countries and from Serbia, with nearly two thousand participants, parade along the main Boulevard of Leskovac every carnival Saturday from 9 pm. Several tens of thousands of Leskovac citizens and their guests from the country and abroad greet the participants who, with their colorful masks, choreographies, allegorical vehicles, juggling songs and other carnival curiosities, pass through the line of observers and show three-minute programs at two points. Leskovac is one of the most prominent members of the Federation of European Carnival Cities. He can boast that, in addition to numerous groups, he hosted respected members of the diplomatic corps, the most prominent representatives of carnival cities, distinguished guests from the country and abroad, cultural and public workers, businessmen, artists ...

The children's carnival is preceded by a big Masquerade. Hundreds of costumed boys and girls walked through the carnival plateau with masks that evening. The organizer richly rewards the best masked children. Then the children from the dance schools of kindergartens, primary schools and clubs for children with special needs, with their educators and mentors, organize carnival groups of small participants and organize memory programs. The organizer presents diplomas, medals and posters to the best children's carnival groups. 

Leskovac majorettes were formed in June 2001 as the first majorette group in Serbia. The initial choreographies were modeled on majorette groups from the Greek island of Corfu. During the previous years, the group had over 100 guest appearances in Serbian cities and abroad. They usually perform accompanied by tin orchestras. They are one of the protective features of Leskovac and Southern Serbia, unique in their appearance and extremely attractive for the media and the public. They are regular participants in all important tourist, cultural and sports events in Leskovac, Serbia and the surrounding area. 

At the national championships and the International Festival of Majorettes and Brass Bands in 2009, they won all the major awards.