Celebrate Ensenada’s “Carnaval Histórico 1918-2006” from February 23-28!
text by connie ellig; photos by david hopps

The term “Carnaval” is most likely derived from the Italian or Latin words meaning “goodbye to flesh,” referring to the once widespread Catholic practice of not eating meat during Lent. By tradition, Carnaval (pronounced Car-na-VAL) is the period of excessive permissiveness allowed by the Catholic Church immediately prior to Lent, the forty days self-denial that begin on Ash Wednesday and end on Easter Sunday.

Customarily Carnaval celebrations are held only in port cities. In Mexico the first known Carnaval festivities occurred during the mid-1800s in the towns of Mazatlán, Veracruz and Salina Cruz. Although Ensenada’s first Carnaval took place in 1891, it did not become an officially organized, annual celebration until 1918. That year Luz Caballero de Guiza and José Chavarín became the first Queen and King of Carnaval and presided over an extravagant parade that included motorized floats, decorated roadsters, brass bands, orchestras, and caballeros mounted on their finest steeds.

Carnaval is now Ensenada’s largest and most popular annual event. Last year’s six-day celebration lured more than 600,000 revelers from Baja and Southern California as well as the Mexican mainland. This year’s “Carnaval Histórico 1918-2006,” to be held February 23-28, is expected to attract an even larger crowd of visitors who are drawn to the glitter, glamour and excitement of this year’s historic theme.

Headed by Alfredo Mendoza, Carnaval’s organizing committee has been working diligently since October 2005 to ensure a safe and memorable celebration in the port of Ensenada. In addition to traditional Carnaval activities like the street fair, parades, and coronation of children and adult Queens and Kings, the committee is planning a foot race, photo expositions and conferences, the publication of a commemorative calendar and booklet of historical anecdotes, and a Spanish-language web site, www.carnavalensenada.com

Make plans now to be a part of the tradition and fiesta of “Carnaval Histórico 1918-2006,” Ensenada’s historic Mardi Gras!

Thursday, February 23
6pm-2am: The street fair party zone is open along Av. Ruiz and Av. Juarez with plenty of activities for the entire family including games of chance, neon-lit rides for all ages, and numerous booths with an array of Mexican foods, drinks, crafts and souvenirs. Sixteen stages scattered throughout the party zone will feature different types of live music for dancing.

8pm: Carnaval officially kicks off with the Burning of Bad Humor (“Quema de Mal Humor”), at which an effigy, usually of an unpopular politician, is condemned to death, hung and burned to ashes. This noisy and colorful pyrotechnical display takes place near the main stage at Parque Revolución.

Friday, February 24
6pm-2am: The street fair party zone is open along Av. Ruiz and Av. Juarez with plenty of activities for the entire family including games of chance, neon-lit rides for all ages, and numerous booths with an array of Mexican foods, drinks, crafts and souvenirs. Sixteen stages scattered throughout the party zone will feature different types of live music for dancing.

8pm: Coronation of the Carnaval Queen, King and their court on the main stage in Parque Revolución. The featured entertainer of the evening is Mike Díaz with regional Mexican music.

Saturday, February 25
2pm: The Carnaval parade forms on Av. Juarez and begins its route along Av. Ruiz to Virgilio Uribe, then to Blvd. Costero where it ends at the State Tourism/Gobierno offices.

4pm-2am: The street fair party zone is open along Av. Ruiz and Av. Juarez with plenty of activities for the entire family including games of chance, neon-lit rides for all ages, and numerous booths with an array of Mexican foods, drinks, crafts and souvenirs. Sixteen stages scattered throughout the party zone will feature different types of live music for dancing.

The featured entertainer of the evening is Loe, who will perform songs from her debut album, “Lady Reggaeton,” released in September 2005. A talented artist from Tabasco, Mexico, Loe brings her unique female point of view to the male-dominated genre of reggaeton, a blend of the Jamaican music influences of reggae and dancehall with those of Latin America and hip-hop.

Sunday, February 26
2pm: The second Carnaval parade along the same route as Saturday.

4pm-2am: The street fair party zone is open along Av. Ruiz and Av. Juarez with plenty of activities for the entire family including games of chance, neon-lit rides for all ages, and numerous booths with an array of Mexican foods, drinks, crafts and souvenirs. Sixteen stages scattered throughout the party zone will feature different types of live music for dancing.

Monday, February 27
9am: Children's art contest at the Casa de la Cultura in the Riviera Cultural Center on Blvd. Costero.

6pm-2am: The street fair party zone is open along Av. Ruiz and Av. Juarez with plenty of activities for the entire family including games of chance, neon-lit rides for all ages, and numerous booths with an array of Mexican foods, drinks, crafts and souvenirs. Sixteen stages scattered throughout the party zone will feature different types of live music for dancing.

8pm: Traditional “Oppressed Spouse Dance” (Baile del Marido Oprimido) at the Hotel Bahía on Av. Lopez Mateos & Av. Alvarado.

8pm: Contest finals for the “comparsas” dance troupes at the Gran Chaparral on Av. Reforma.

Tuesday, February 28
2pm: The last Carnaval parade along the same route as Saturday.

6pm-2am: The street fair party zone is open along Av. Ruiz and Av. Juarez with plenty of activities for the entire family including games of chance, neon-lit rides for all ages, and numerous booths with an array of Mexican foods, drinks, crafts and souvenirs. Sixteen stages scattered throughout the party zone will feature different types of live music for dancing.

8pm: Award presenatations at the Salon Mutualista Progreso. 
 

Ensenada Carnaval 2005 Photo Gallery