Forget Rio and its buxom, scantily-clad dancers; Paris is whooping it up in winter coats and gloves. Guaranteed papier mâché heads too! We give you all the razzle-dazzle details of the winter whoop-up.

No, it’s not just an excuse to dress up silly and dance around in the street (not that we have anything against that, particularly); it’s a tradition! The Carnaval de Paris dates back tot the 16th century, was wildly popular in the 19th, then disappeared and came back in the late 20th (1997 to be exact).

How odd that it’s now a 21st century success: in the last few years numbers have escalated, and around 100,000 people are expected to take part this year. The idea is to have some down-to-earth fun, a bit of a dance, and perhaps a sing-song, all whilst parading through some of the lesser know parts of Paris (namely the northeast).

You can start getting ready in January even, as the organisers have some free workshops on offer for both kids and adults. Go on, let your hair down!

Here’s the route:

It all starts at place de Gambetta at 2pm with some activities until 2.30pm when the actual parade leaves, then – Avenue Gambetta – Place Auguste Métivier – Boulevard de Ménilmontant – Boulevard de Belleville – Belleville (around 4pm) – Rue du Faubourg-du-Temple – Place de la République (around 5.15pm) – Rue du Temple – Rue de Turbigo – Rue Beaubourg – Rue du Renard – arriving Place de l’Hôtel de Ville at 7pm, with events and hustle and bustle etc. until 9pm.

The Carnaval de Paris is on Sunday 6th March 2011.

Official site (without even a hint of English, I’m afraid): www.carnavaldeparis.org