Those of us who are privileged to live in Mazatlán either look forward to Carnavál as the best event all year, or hightail it out of town as the tourists pour in to enjoy this most wonderful event. Carnavál here is a festival of the people. Teenagers rehearse their dance moves for months, and joyfully don their costumes for the big parade days. There are events for children, for adults, and for the whole family to enjoy. Each year the party zone includes dozens of live bands playing each of the six nights of Carnavál, plus four main concerts/coronations.
Each of the coronations involves the pomp and circumstance of the coronation itself, dance performances and music, a concert by a major national or international performer, and a gorgeous fireworks show. Attendance at at least one if not several of these is a must!
The schedule of the main events for Carnavál doesn’t change year-to-year, although the dates do. In 2015 Carnavál de Mazatlán is February 12th through 17th. It is always the six days prior to Ash Wednesday.
PLEASE NOTE: In 2015 on Monday night it appears there will NOT be a second fireworks show on the malecón as in prior years, but instead a concert by Espinoza Paz in the Olas Altas party zone at 10 pm.
In the past, I’ve published a schedule to help people remember what happens when and where. In this age of infographics, it’s now possible for me to create and share one with you. I hope you’ll print it off for easy reference, and that it will help you plan your very busy and fun-filled week! If you click on the infographic below, it’ll take you to a page where you’ll see it larger, and you can view it even larger again in “presentation mode” on the upper left of that screen. This is my first time to make an infographic, so thank you for helping learn to do it as well as possible.
Don’t forget that we have loads of posts about past Carnavál events, as well as numerous videos on the VidaMaz YouTube channel. Here’s the infographic; please share it around!
How in the world could we possibly top last year’s amazing Carnavál? The theme in 2013 was the movies. Everyone loves a good picture show, and last year’s parade most definitely made the most of that love! I figured there was no way anyone could top last year, so I was mentally prepared not to be sent over the moon by this year’s parade. NOT! Both 2014 Carnavál parades were incredible! The 34 floats, 23 dance troupes and 16 musical groups made for an absolutely fantastic nearly four hour event!
I love that we have two parades. For us, living here on the north end of the malecón, the first parade is an evening into night affair, making for a tremendous street party. The floats in the parade are all aglow, and the dancers are in party mode, grabbing us from our seats and cena on the curb to join in the merriment with them. The second parade, on Tuesday, has the floats lining up in front of our house from just after noon, ready for picture taking in the full light of day. The dancers and royalty come out about an hour before the parade, and it’s the most incredible photo opportunity of the entire year—dancers putting makeup on each other or rehearsing dance steps, bands warming up their instruments and tunes, people stretching, eating, laughing. I absolutely love both these events.
To me the very best thing about Carnavál Internacional de Mazatlán is that it’s a family affair. Nearly every family in town has a member who’s been Carnavál royalty, even if it’s a cousin or aunt, and nearly every Patasalada has danced in Carnavál at some point in his or her life. Royalty celebrate their silver and golden anniversaries, and what a joy it is to see them relive the original thrill, often accompanied by their children! Young children and grandparents dance in the parade, even though it’s such a long route. Several years ago I had a good friend from Mexico City who just hated Carnavál. She thought it was low class and tacky. What she hated most were what she called the beauty contests—that young people were taught to value superficial beauty rather than brains or talent. While I tend to agree with her about beauty contests in general, and I am very much saddened by the shadow cast over the voting for Queen of Carnavál the past few years and hopeful the process will become more transparent, the fact is that Carnavál is a festival of the people. It is much, much, MUCH more than a beauty pageant, involving literature, poetry and painting competitions, concerts galore, fireworks, a food festival, bullfight, several “manifestations” or pre-Carnavál energy-building events, the pomp and circumstance of the coronations, the parades and, of course, the huge street party in Olas Altas for six nights straight. Mazatlán has over a month’s worth of Carnavál-related events, and there’s enough variety to please everyone. Click on any photo below to enlarge it or view a slideshow.
Royal float
Young princesses
And Grandma Queens
Everyone’s royalty at Carnavál
King of Joy Adolfo Blanco
Floral Games float
DIF Queens from the different colonies of Mazatlán
Young royalty
Pretty in pink
Queen of Carnavál float
Floral Games float
Kids rule at the parade. Most of the dancers and musicians are teenagers, children or young adults, joining their friends from dance class, gymnastics, or school. They’ve worked for months to raise money for costumes and props, and have rehearsed their hearts out. They are eager to burst with joy and energy during that first parade. Then, by the second parade on Tuesday, they transform into relaxed, experienced parade marchers, more confident of themselves and the crowd around them.
Masked youth
Pierrot
Acrobats
Fairies
Growing into their bodies
Fun with friends
Hanging out
Helping with makeup
Hi!
Ready to play!
Can I get on the horse?
Vamping for the camera
REady to roll!
Eye makeup and false eyelashes
Lining up
Resting and readying
Ready to go
Smiles of joy
Clowning around
Miming
Samba man
And another samba man
Kisses!
Smiling after all that dancing!
Venetian masks
Venetian Carnavál
In Palazzo Ducale
Who are they? 😉
Hello!!!
A royal wave
Having fun
Ready for the ball
Japanese comparsa
Viva Japan-Mexico!
Africa was represented
Truck driver brings his daughter
The pre-parade sponsors
Cutie patootie
Shouts of joy
Amazon was represented
Gymnastics and hip hop dancing
Gorgeous young people
The other star of the parades is the setting—the route goes along the malecón, south to north on Sunday, then north to south on Tuesday, with a clear view out to the ocean and the islands of our bay, the glittering lights of downtown, and the changing colored lights of Valentino’s on the northern end.
Sunset over the parade route
Helicopter patroling for safety
Floats ready to go for the second parade
Sunset over the parade route
Sunset over the parade route
Sunset over the parade route
Sunset over the parade route
Monigote and the crowd
Floats ready to go for the second parade
Candy! Candy!
So, what made 2014 stand out for me? The most notable difference for me was the crowds! Usually people set out their chairs the night before the big day, but this year was unreal. There were solid chairs from one end of the parade route to the other, and it was reported that over 800,000 people—twice the population of the city—turned out to watch the first parade! We had three families that did not join our party because they couldn’t get through the crowd to get to us! It was a-m-a-z-i-n-g! The mayor tested out a bleacher system which seemed very popular with those wanting a seat at the last minute, but that met with huge pushback from those opposed to selling seats along the malecón. While I’d love to see seats and space continue to be free of charge, something obviously has to give if the crowds keep growing like they are. I’m sure we had many more spectators this year who joined us from Durango, Zacatecas and beyond, thanks to the new highway.
Last year you’ll remember that CULTURA invited a special group from Brazil to join us. They were scantily clad and a huge hit. I believe that is perhaps what influenced another change that we noticed this year: much sexier costumes, and many more scantily clad dancers. Several of the floats had hired models dancing on them, fortunately including scantily clad men as well as women, so everyone could enjoy. I noticed quite a few of the kids’ dance groups had sexier-than-usual garb, also. Perhaps that was in keeping with this year’s theme, Piel del Mar or “Skin of the Sea.”
My personal favorite float this year was the Venetian float that Francisco Igartúa made for Marcela I, Queen of the Floral Games. It transported all of us to the Palazzo Ducale, complete with a couple of gondola rides, and beautifully honored the style that Maestro Rigo Lewis established for royal carriages of Carnavál these past 50 years.
Gondolas of Venice on the malecón
Floral Games float
Floral Games float
Palazzo Ducale
Palazzo Ducale
Palazzo Ducale
Queen Lorena’s float was also incredible, representing Rio. It was begun by Maestro Rigo himself, and finished up by his family after his death. Suzset, the Child Queen’s float was also made by Maestro Rigo and the Lewis family, representing New Orleans. Maestro Jorge González Neri had a huge hit with the King of Joy, Adolfo Blanco’s, exuberant and colorful Cuban float. You can definitely see the different styles of the floats’ creators!
Royal float
Queen Lorena I
Queen of Carnavál float
Queen of Carnavál float
Queen Suzset
Queen Suzset’s float
Queen Suzset’s float
King of Joy Adolfo Blanco
King of Joy float
There were so many terrific floats, and also the LED-lit cars that we’ve grown to love these past few years. At least four continents were represented this year: the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. It was all definitely a feast for the senses!
Here are a few final pics of some of the dancers in this year’s parade. I hope you enjoyed it all as much as we did!
The past couple of year’s I’ve put together a video of Carnavál. This year, Mahatma Millan has already put together such a terrific one, that I figured I don’t need to bother. Let me share with you his terrific work:
Today is Ash Wednesday; Lent begins. Time to rest, reflect and recenter, after the exuberance and sleep deprival of the past week! Please, share with us your favorite part of Carnavál, in the comments below.
CULTURA has just released this list of the floats and dance troupes that will appear in this year’s Carnavál parades. Print this out and bring it with you to the parade, so you know what’s what and who’s who!
There will be 34 floats constructed by seven different teams, 23 dance troupes, seven typical Sinaloan tamboras de viento, five bands, plus two percussion groups and two school bands, who will ensure that all attending test our their dance moves!
The parade this year will be in four sections, as usual.
First Section
Homage to Carnavál in Rio
Queen of Carnavál 2014 Lorena I
Police
Fireworks
ECIMI
PRIMERA PLUS
Band from Technical Secondary School #5
Float #1: Pacífico Brewery, Carnavál sponsors, created by Jorge González Neri
Comparsa/dance group: Percusiones en la Costa Grupo Percusiones
Float #2: Percussions on the Coast, designed and produced by Monofaber
Comparsa/dance group: Splendor in Rio
Float #3: Splendor in Rio, created by Monofaber, with models from Brasil, Mazatlán, Colima and Durango
Electric Car: Brazil Tiger, first car with LED lighting
Float #4: The Amazon, designed by Graciano Grande, with professional models
Comparsa/dance troupe: A Mandela
Float # 5: A Mandela, designed by Jorge González Neri, homage to the African leader Nelson Mandela.
Comparsa/dance troupe: Sol Brasileño
Float #6: Sun, Sea and Fantasy, created by Jorge González Neri and representing South American nature
Comparsa/dance troupe: Volando a Rio
Float #7: Flying to Rio, created by Jorge González Neri, the sights of Rio
Rolling sculpture of recently departed Carnavál Maestro Rigo Lewis
Float #8: Royal Carriage of the Queen of Carnavál
Float #9: The Sphinx of Cleopatra, 50 Year Anniversary of Queen Lupita V (1964)
Second Section
Homage to Carnavál in Venice
Queen of the Floral Games 2014 Marcela I
Comparsa/dance troupe: Mexico-Japan Association (Nikkei), celebrating 400 years of the first diplomatic mission from Japan to Mexico.
Float #10: Saint John the Baptist, the name given in Spanish to the Japanese ship Date Maru of the Hasekura Expedition to New Spain. Float created by Monofaber.
Comparsa/dance troupe: Mexico-Japan Association
Comparsa/dance troupe: Carruaje Sobre el Adriático
Float #11: Carriage on the Adriatic
Comparsa/dance troupe: León Veneciano
Float #12: The Venetian Lion, symbol of the power of the Venetian Duke, created by Jorge González Neri, characteristic of a gondola
Comparsa/dance group: Spirit of Carnavál
Float #13: Spirit of Carnavál, Venetian personalities from the art of comedy: Harlequin, Pierrot, and Colombin, by Jorge González Neri
Float #16: Perfume of Carnavál, the costumes and decorations of Venetian Carnavál, by Jorge González Neri
Float #17: Royal Carriage of the Queen of the Floral Games, by Francisco Igartúa, respecting the style that Rigo Lewis established for Carnavál de Mazatlán for more than 50 years.
Float #18: The Winged Lion, illuminated work of Jorge Osuna, Henry Wilson and Rafael Mitchell Cruz, representing the legend of Mark the Evangelist who was greeted by an angel on Lake Venice, ascending to heaven and returning to earth as a winged lion.
Comparsa/dance troupe: Venetian Harlequins
Float #19: Venetian Harlequins, illuminated sculpture by Jorge Osuna, Henry Wilson and Rafael Mitchell Cruz.
Third Section
Homage to Carnavál of New Orleans
Child Queen 2014 Zuszet I
Musical Band from Puebla, guest school
Electric Car: The Harlequin
Comparsa/dance troupe: Masquerade
Float #20: Masquerade, the masks and contagious musical rhythms of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, by Jorge Osuna, Henry Wilson and Rafael Mitchell Cruz.
Comparsa/dance troupe: Flor de Lis
Float #21: Flor de Lis, which will transport the Queen of Poetry 2014. Signifies New Orleans’ origins as a French colony, created by Jorge Osuna, Henry Wilson and Rafael Mitchell Cruz.
Float #22: Challenge in the Swamp, commemorating the pagan spiritual traditions of New Orleans. Created by Jorge Osuna, Henry Wilson and Rafael Mitchell Cruz.
Electric car: Crab, created by Jorge Osuna, Henry Wilson and Rafael Mitchell Cruz.
Float #23: Carnavál on the Sea, created by Jorge Osuna, Henry Wilson and Rafael Mitchell Cruz.
Float #24: Royal Carriage of the Child Queen, in the traditional style of Dr. Rigoberto Lewis.
Comparsa/dance troupe: Wind, Percussion and Harlequins
Electric car: Saxophone, music of New Orleans
Float #25: Wind, Percussions and Harlequins, Ana Becerra debuts as a float designer. This float will transport Elba María Alcalá, commemorating her 25th anniversary as Child Queen, in 1989.
Comparsa/dance troupe: See You Later Alligator
Float #26: See You Later Alligator, which will transport Culiacán’s Child Queen. Float by González Neri, sponsored by El Debate.
Comparsa/dance troupe: Bird Over Louisiana
Float #27: Bird Over Louisiana, the diverse ecosystem of the New Orelans area, by Maestro González Neri.
Fourth Section
Homage to Carnavál of Havana
King of Joy 2014 Adolfo Blanco
Electric car: Rio
Comparsa/dance troupe: INAPAM María Elena Ríos (three cars from the port/API, with elderly women)
Float #28: Tropical Bird, by Monofaber with professional models
Comparsa/dance troupe: Cuban Flavor
Float #29: Cuban Flavor, drum rhythms since the times of slavery, memories of Carnavál’s history. Royal Court of the King 2013 will ride on this float designed by Maestro González Neri.
Electric car: Cubana
Comparsa/dance troupe: Burn the Bongo
Float #30: Burn the Bongo, muñecones and mamarrachos are distinctive of Carnavál in La Habana, complete with pots and pans as drums. Ramón Loaiza will ride this float to commemorate his 25th Anniversary as King of Joy. Float by González Neri.
Float #31: Royal Carriage of the King of Joy 2014, by Jorge González Neri
Float #32: Monarchs of the Caribbean, by González Neri.
Comparsa/dance troupe: Play, Black Man
Float #33: Play, Black Man, rolling float by González Neri
Electric car: Cuba
Comparsa/dance troupe: Cuban Rhythms
Float #34: Cuban Rhythms, rhythms and melodies from the island colonized by Spaniards and inhabited by African slaves, with a bit of Asian immigration thrown in. Float by González Neri.
Are you ready?!!! Some last-minute details have been released, in order to build anticipation for this major event, Carnavál Internacional de Mazatlán 2014, Litoralia!
Belinda, yes the Belinda who duets with Pitbull, is confirmed to be on the Pacífico float in Carnavál this year. The Burning of Bad Humor this year will be Lucerito, the actress who infamously went hunting with her partner for endangered animals, despite the huge outcry to burn Predial for its billing fiasco.
While the light parade and fireworks on the malecón that traditionally take place Monday night appeared in early CULTURA announcements, it seems that they indeed will not take place this year. In some places it has been announced they will take place in Olas Altas (party zone). My guess is that the change is due to the addition of the Banda El Recodo and Los Recoditos concerts on Monday and Fat Tuesday, respectively. Both concerts are scheduled to start at 10:00 pm. This means much more music than ever this year!
This year we lost our beloved Carnavál-meister, Maestro Rigo Lewis. Maestro Jorge González Neri has made a sculpture of Rigo, and it will appear in the parade ahead of the Queen of Carnaval’s royal float, in the same position that Maestro Rigo walked every year.
As I’ve mentioned previously, we will have a Japanese float and comparsa/two dance troupes this year, with over 120 dancers! They will dance Japanese festival style, to a mashup of Japanese traditional and salsa music, to celebrate 400 years of Japan-Mexico diplomatic relations. Banzai!
The main parade begins on Sunday at 5:30 pm from the Fisherman’s Monument and heads north to Valentino’s/Rafael Buelna. Chairs, tables, and bleachers are already lining the malecón. Lorena I, Queen of Carnavál and her entourage—including princesses Siu Ying Audelo, Daniela García and Harriet Vázquez, will be decked out in homage to Rio’s Mardi Gras. The Floral Games contingent, headed by Queen Marcela I and including the princesses Harriet Carreón and Pamela de la Vega,will pay tribute to the Carnavál of Venice. Adolfo Blanco, the King of Joy, will head up a group of floats and dancers celebrating the Carnavál of La Habana. In total the parade will include 34 floats, 23 dance and musical groups, involving 2000 people, 300 of whom will ride on the floats. Here is our video compilation from last year’s (2013) Carnavál parade:
Be sure to turn out early for either of the two parades, Sunday or Tuesday, as it’s great for photographs and video. The second parade starts at the Aquarium at 4:00 pm on March 4th, heading south to Olas Altas. Our video compilation of pre-parade from two years ago, below:
Over 30,000 people filled Olas Altas party zone Thursday night for the Chuy Lizárraga and Las Horóscopos de Durango concert, according to the Noroeste, and it is predicted 80,000 will attend the El Recodo concert on Monday night. I can personally attest that Thursday was wall-to-wall crowded. I can not imagine how 80,000 people will fit in Olas Altas. Be careful and stay calm and happy, everyone!
According to Mazatlán Interactivo, groups scheduled to perform in Olas Altas party zone this year, all beginning at 10:00 pm, include:
Stage by the Escudo/Seal of Sinaloa: Banda los Porteños
Stage on Sixto Osuna: Banda Crucero
Stage between Sixto Osuna and Constitución: Fussion Teens, Notas Latinas
Stage on Constitución: Banda Legal, Banda Dorada
Stage on Mariano Escobedo: Grupo Ritmo Playa, Grupo Once Rios
Stage by the Deer Statue: La Rezaka, Hermanos Romero
Stage by the Mazatlecan Woman: Banda Patty, Los Navegantes
Stage below the Mirador: Grupo Nueva Estrella, Sentido Contrario
Stage at the Cliff Divers (Sánchez Taboada): Banda La Conquistadora, Grupo Zen Evolución Musical
Carnavál de Mazatlán 2014—this year with the theme Litoralia: Skin of the Sea—is fast approaching! To build some excitement and get your energies flowing, I post a few of the videos we’ve take during Carnavál the past couple of years. Get out your masks and confetti, put on your dancing shoes, and enjoy!
2012 Preparations for 2nd Parade
Great video of the kids rehearsing, putting on makeup, eating, and horsing around:
2013 Main Parade
Video from street level of the main parade at night, with dancers coming out to dance with us in the crowd and closeups of those in the parade.
2012 Queen Karla Coronation Fireworks
Video of the fireworks over the stadium——filmed from a distance where they can best be viewed——during the coronation of the 2012 Carnavál Queen, Karla.
2012 Main Parade VERY short (30 second) view from the street, with closeups of the performers.
Remember that Mazatlán’s Carnavál is now the second largest in the world. In addition to the two main parades, the four coronations including their concerts and show productions, two huge fireworks displays, and this year’s additional two concerts by El Recodo and Los Recoditos, there is ALSO a bullfight, painting and literature competitions, a gastronomic festival, a fair (with rides, county fair style), a couple of balls (a children’s ball and a masquerade ball), and the party zone in Olas Altas, where dozens of bands will play each night, till the wee hours of the morning. View CULTURA’s calendar for this year’s Carnavál here. View details of the normal annual events here.
¡VidaMaz! 