Descended from the Carnival, the ‘corso fleuri’ is now a key part of Var festival tradition. However, it emerged relatively recently – at the end of the 19th century. On the Saturday, the floats are decorated with thousands of flowers, and on the Sunday, they are paraded through the streets of the village.
Fanfares, folk groups and people in costume accompany the parade. In Bormes, Sainte-Maxime and Saint-Raphaël, mimosa blossoms decorate the parade, elsewhere, multi-coloured carnations or other flowers decorate the floats. The festival always finishes with a flower battle!
The main ‘corsos’ take place in Bormes-les-mimosas, Carqueiranne, Cavalaire-sur-Mer, Cogolin, Draguignan, Le Lavandou, Ollioules, Roquebrune-sur-Argens, Saint-Raphaël and Sainte-Maxime.