Here’s a Carnavál song we’ve loved since last year and couldn’t find out who did it. Here it is, complete with awesome video. It is sure to help you get psyched for the coronation, the burning of bad humor (the Mexican justice system/Florence Cassez), and the Combate Naval fireworks tonight!!! If the first two coronations are any benchmark, this is the best Carnavál ever!
Carnavál de Mazatlán is such a major community event. I love how it brings people together. And not just from Mazatlán and the surrounding communities, but it brings in people from all over Mexico (this year we met a great 80-piece band from Puebla, for example) and Latin America (the visiting queens).
The best-kept secret of Carnavál, however, is the PRE-parade, just prior to the second parade. That’s when all the dancers, royalty and performers have already paraded once. They have had their coronations, things are winding down. They are relaxed, happy. They know what they’re doing, they know what to expect.
And, they are lined up along the malecón, getting dressed, putting on makeup, eating something to tide them over for the next few hours of dancing. They are laughing and talking, relaxing, and posing for the tourists. It has honestly become one of my absolute favorite Carnavál activities, though of course I have lots of “favorites” this time of year!
Below is a video I put together tonight, highlighting some of what happened during pre-parade today. I hope you will get a taste of why I love the pre-parade. Thanks for viewing!
A sixth open-air venue, this one where we could watch visual artists create
Perfect weather, including a gorgeous moon
Mazatlán’s beautiful architecture and the ocean waves as a backdrop
The fun-loving, joyous, quick to laugh and dance-till-they-drop Mazatlecos
Enough of a crowd to feel the pulsating energy, yet uncrowded enough that you can find a good seat, a terrific view, and enjoy a good drink, cena or botanas…
I have not danced, sweated and laughed so much in a while. Thank you, Mazatlán! Below is my two-minute highlight of the evening. After you click “play” you can toggle to view in HD.
Twenty musical groups performed last evening between 7 pm and about 1 am. Those performing on Escenario Paseo Olas Altas (Banda y Tropical):
Ensamble de percusiones
Banda la Mazatleca
Grupo Fussion (my personal favorite of the evening)
Performing on the Escenario Machado:
Coro Guillermo Sarabia
Camerata Mazatlán
Pumcayo
The Sconek-T
Klezmerson
Performing on Calle Niños Heroes and Mariano Escobedo, the EscenarioRock y Tendencias:
Venus Rex Machina
Claussen
Carlitos Ojos Rojos
Los Insensatos
Dapuntobeat
Performing on Calle Venustiano Carranza, in front of the Art Museum (Música del Recuerdo):
Suncai Gitano (they were very good also)
Grupo Fussion (they performed on two stages)
La Negra, La Blanca y La Redonda
Zarzuela al Piano
On Calle Venus, entre Constitución y Sixto Osuna (Escenario Fusión), were: