Summer Carnival

The Summer Carnaval (Dutch:Zomercarnaval) is a yearly event in Rotterdam that mimics the Carnaval of South- Latin-America and the Cape Verde Islands. In the cold Dutch climate the real Carnival often is held in the winter. This climate doesn't lend itself for celebrating carnival in the Latin-American and Cape Verde manner. The Summer Carnival offers them an opportunity to still celebrate. The Rotterdam event attracts nearly a million visitors yearly. Summer Carnaval is often compared to Karneval der Kulturen (Berlin) and Notting Hill Carnival (London).
Summer Carnival in Holland is held since 1983. The first edition was in Utrecht, since 1984 it is in Rotterdam. Although the street parade attracts the most visitors the Zomercarnaval is a multiple-day event. A week prior to the street parade the new Queen is elected in the official Zomercarnaval Queen Election. On the Thursday after the election the Zomercarnaval Beach Party is held at the Stand aan de Maas, a small beach created in the city center of Rotterdam. Several brass bands and DJ's show up and the newly chosen Queen is also present