Opening Carnivale

As I write this, a tall thin man in an orange jumpsuit makes his way across to the riverside while a brass marching band practices beneath my office window.  Workmen are setting up tables to catch drink glasses, port-a-loo’s are being distributed around the city.  Red, yellow, and green striped flags are fluttering everywhere.

In short, it’s Carnivale.

The event defies narrative description, unfortunately: it is just a whirl of color, music, and street parties day and night for five days.  The opening parade is being held tomorrow with the raising of the Moose-Wife at 11, but the serious revelry got rolling last night.