Aalborg residents must now pay themselves to keep carnival-goers from urinating in their yards

Residents along the route of Aalborg Carnival will have to cover the cost of fencing to block festival attendees from entering private yards and stairwells, after the event organiser announced it would no longer foot the bill, DR Nordjylland reports.

The annual carnival, which draws over 80,000 participants to the streets of Aalborg, has left many residents along the parade route with no choice but to erect barriers to prevent public urination and vomiting in their courtyards. Until now, Aalborg Carnival had paid for the fencing, but this year, residents must arrange and pay for it themselves.

Jørn Koch Andersen, chair of the Vesterbro19B homeowners’ association—located directly on the parade route—called the decision unfair. “If you choose to hold a carnival and take the revenue that comes with it, you must also help the people who live along the route,” he said. He estimates the cost of fencing off his association’s courtyard will run into “a couple thousand kroner.”

Jeanett Kaare, development director at Aalborg Carnival, acknowledged the frustration but cited overwhelming demand. “The number of residents, businesses, and housing associations requesting fences has grown so significantly that we simply don’t have the resources—financially or in terms of staff—to provide fencing for everyone,” she said. “We can’t fence off the entire city.”

The carnival has directed those wishing to order fencing to its website. This year’s event takes place on 23 May.

Aalborg Carnival is one of Denmark’s largest street festivals, with over 80,000 participants annually. (Photo: © Henning Bagger, Ritzau Scanpix)