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The Carnival of Tilff takes place every year on Laetare Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Lent. It is also called "le Laetare de Tilff".

It takes place in Tilff, a tourist town located on the banks of the Ourthe. In 2018, the 67th edition took place on March 11.

Presentation
This carnival has existed since 1952. The apotheosis of this carnival is the great procession of Laetare that includes a thousand costumed participants, 8 giants, 10 fanfares and many floats. The emblematic group of the carnival is the group of “les Porais Tilffois” which participate at the carnival since the second edition.

The carnival of Tilff is a synthesis of several Walloon folkloric events and carnivals: it takes place during Laetare, like the carnival of Stavelot; it is headed by a carnival prince, like the carnivals of the Eastern Townships; the procession includes several giants, like the ducasse d'Ath; and it ends with a final circle dance, like the carnival of Binche.

History
At the end of the sixteenth century, the village of Tilff had among its inhabitants an outstanding gardener named Djôsef li r’Pikeû (Joseph the "Replanter") who developed a fertilizer capable of growing leeks of decent size. At that time, the tithe, a tax of one-tenth of the grain harvest, was levied. In 1585, as the grain harvest was not a success, the Prince-Bishop of Liège let the Tilffois replace cereals with leeks. Thanks to the size of the leeks, the quantity was enormous. The Tilffois complained but they had to deliver this heavy tithe to the agreed place. Unfortunately, during the night, half of the leeks had disappeared without any trace of break-in, which led the representative of the Prince-Bishop to ask: "Did your leeks have legs? Because they escape without the help of anyone?" So was born the story of leeks (in Walloon: Porais) of Tilff.

Folk group
The current folk group "Porais Tilffois" was inspired by this story. The costumes represent the leek with its three colours: the green serrated hood ending in leek leaves, the white overalls, the belt of bells, and the legs covered with beige raffia representing the roots. The Porais are accompanied by a band of nine music-loving gardeners and by Djôsef li r’Pikeû, a 4.3 metre giant. They regularly participate in other Belgian and European carnivals. They have been present at the Carnival of Tilff since 1953. In the middle of a roundabout near the bridge of Tilff there is a statue representing a Porais.

Absence during the 65th edition
In 2016 and for the first time since the beginning of their participation, the Porais Tilffois were absent from the event because of a financial disagreement with the ASBL Folklore Tillfois that organizes the carnival. The latter stated that despite the reputation of the Porais they could not favour one folk group over another and deplored the dispute. The Porais say that they have never made money on any carnival. They rather see this event as a quality family party that they wish to facilitate. An agreement was found and the Porais were back for the 2017 edition.