The colors of Berlin's Carnival of Cultures

The street parade showcasing dances by different ethnic minorities is a highlight of the Karneval der Kulturen (Carnival of Cultures). The Dancing Dragons troupe is seen here performing a traditional Chinese dance at last year's event. The dragons are trying to reach the "pearl of wisdom," a symbol for the pursuit of perfection and knowledge. The group will be performing again this year.

Berlin has many special features, but unlike in many other German cities, the celebration of carnival is not one of them. The Swabian-Alemannic Shrove Tuesday festivities are a strong tradition in Baden-Württemberg, in the south of Germany. These folkloric costumed characters are an entertaining sight at the Berlin Karneval der Kulturen.

At Berlin's Karneval der Kulturen, boundaries separating nationalities, genders and generations are broken down. In this picture, samba queen Sonia de Oliveira poses with an older festival goer. Along with her group Amasonia, she has danced through Berlin to protest against the genetic manipulation of corn crops and endangered plant species.

At the 2016 Karneval der Kulturen, participants in the group Tarantella also had a political message: "Isolation leads to hair loss" was the kind of warning slogan that could be read on their imitation cigarette packets. "Isolation leads to the loss of your cultural roots!" was another message. Isolationist policies were a big issue that year.

Along with the famous street parade, there are many other activities programmed throughout the event. The Karneval der Kulturen is a four-day street festival with concerts from international bands and DJs, performances by street artists and acrobats, as well as workshops on sustainability.