Once again it’s time for Carnaval, the Mexican equivalent of Mardi Gras! By tradition, Carnaval is the period of excessive permissiveness allowed by the Catholic Church immediately prior to Lent, the forty days of fasting and self-denial that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. Although the origins of Carnaval celebrations in Ensenada can be traced back to 1891, the year 1918 is considered the official date of the seaport’s first Carnaval. Through the years, it has grown to become Ensenada’s largest and most popular event, typically enticing more than 500,000 visitors from Baja California, Baja California Sur and the Mexican mainland as well as northern and southern California and other parts of the United States.
 
For a solid six-day period, Ensenada’s coastal Blvd. Costero (Lázaro Cárdenas) and its environs between Av. Miramar and Av. Castillo – including Plaza Cívica de la Patria – will be the site of a nightly street fair. There will be plenty of activities for the entire family including games of chance, neon-lit rides for all ages, and numerous booths offering an array of tantalizing Mexican foods and drinks as well as an assortment of crafts and souvenirs. Various stages scattered throughout this party zone will feature different genres of live music for dancing in the streets. The musical lineup includes a variety of internationally known performers like singers Víctor García, Chuy Lizárraga, Fidel Rueda and Adan Romero, among others. The eagerly anticipated parades on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday afternoons will be especially lavish this year with the participation of more than colorful 30 floats and 16 dynamic choreographed dance troupes, known as comparsas.
 
Thursday, March 3
6pm-2am: The street fair party zone is open along Blvd. Costero between Av. Miramar and Av. Castillo with live music, dancing, rides, games and fireworks.
 
Evening: Carnaval officially kicks off with the Quema de Mal Humor (Burning of Bad Humor). This noisy and colorful pyrotechnical display takes place near the main stage at Plaza Cívica de la Patria, also known as “Three Heads” plaza. Enjoy live music from El Gallo Elizalde, Adán Romero, Juan Galindo and Sentenciados.
 
Friday, March 4
6pm-2am: The street fair party zone is open along Blvd. Costero between Av. Miramar and Av. Castillo with live music, dancing, rides, games and fireworks.
 
Evening: Coronation of the 2011 Carnaval King Javier Posada Quintana, Queen Norma Gallegos Gutiérrez and their royal court at approximately 7pm on the main stage at Plaza Cívica de la Patria, also known as “Three Heads” plaza. Enjoy live music from Banda Comala, Calor Norteño, Area Norteña, Complot Norteño and Teo González.
 
Saturday, March 5
2pm: The first parade of Carnaval starts on Av. Juárez & Av. Castillo, and then continues to Av. Ruiz to Av. Virgilio Uribe to Blvd. Costero, finishing near Calle Diamante.
 
4pm: “Rock at Carnaval” Concert with bands of different genres on the Plaza de las Artes of Ensenada’s Centro Estatal de las Artes (CEARTE) on the corner of Blvd. Costero & Av. Club Rotario. Free admission. Info: CEARTE, tels. (646)173-4307 & (646)173-4308.
 
4pm-2am: The street fair party zone is open along Blvd. Costero between Av. Miramar and Av. Castillo with live music, dancing, rides and games. Enjoy live music from Alejandro Liera, Enigma Norteño, Los Shakas, and others.
 
6pm: Carnaval Costume Ball & Wine Tasting - Sample a selection of Baja California wines from 6-9pm in the Salón Casino and then dance the night away from 9pm-2am to the sounds of the Machito Ruíz Salsa Orchestra in the Salón Catedral of the Riviera Cultural Center on Blvd. Costero & Av. Club Rotario. Costume attire and/or mask is mandatory; prize for best costume. Admission ($17dlls.) includes dance, wine tasting and commemorative glass. Info/tickets: Baja California Winemakers Association (Provino), tel. (646)178-3038; e-mail 
 
Sunday, March 6
9am: Bicycle race on Blvd. Costero.
 
1:30-10pm: Food, Wine & Culture - CANIRAC Chamber of Restaurants and the Baja California Winemakers Association (Provino) offer a variety of culinary specialties by local restaurants and Baja’s best wines in the colorful gardens of the Riviera Cultural Center on Blvd. Costero & Av. Club Rotario. Enjoy the evening lineup of cultural entertainment in the Riviera’s open-air theater including Tablao-Studio Flamenco at 5pm, Irish dancers at 6pm, Russian dancers at 7pm, and English and Spanish music from the 60s, 70s and 80s performed by Mexicali’s Grupo Innuendo at 8pm. Free admission. Info: CANIRAC Chamber of Restaurants, tel. (646)174-0448; e-mail 
 
2pm: The second parade of Carnaval starts on Av. Juárez & Av. Castillo, and then continues to Av. Ruiz to Av. Virgilio Uribe to Blvd. Costero, finishing near Calle Diamante.
 
4pm-2am: The street fair party zone is open along Blvd. Costero between Av. Miramar and Av. Castillo with live music, dancing, rides and games.
 
8pm: Carnaval Chess Tournament awards in the Casa de la Cultura of the Riviera Cultural Center.
 
8pm: Spectacular Brazilian Show on the main stage at Plaza Cívica de la Patria in the street fair party zone. Also enjoy live music from Fidel Rueda.
 
Monday, March 7
4pm-2am: The street fair party zone is open along Blvd. Costero between Av. Miramar and Av. Castillo with live music, dancing, rides and games.
 
8pm: Traditional Baile del Marido Oprimido (Oppressed Spouse Dance) at the Hotel Bahía on Av. Lopez Mateos & Av. Alvarado.
 
Tuesday, March 8
2pm: The third and final parade of Carnaval starts on Av. Juárez & Av. Castillo, and then continues to Av. Ruiz to Av. Virgilio Uribe to Blvd. Costero, finishing near Calle Diamante.
 
4pm-2am: The street fair party zone is open along Blvd. Costero between Av. Miramar and Av. Castillo with live music, dancing, rides and games.
 
5pm: Awards for the Children’s Carnaval Painting Contest and at 5:30pm, the 36th Juegos Florales Poetry Contest in the open-air theater of the Riviera Cultural Center on Blvd. Costero & Av. Club Rotario.
 
6pm: Ensenada Talent Night - Enjoy local entertainment in the Riviera’s open-air theater with the Rondalla de Todos Santos at 6pm, the Banda Musical Municipal de Ensenada at 7pm, the Circo Ito Street Theater at 8pm, and the Ballet Folklórico del Municipio de Ensenada at 9pm.
 
6pm: Final contest and awards for the comparsas dance troupes on the main stage at Plaza Cívica de la Patria in the street fair party zone.
 
Evening: Enjoy live music from Víctor García, Vicente Guzmán and Banda Agua Caliente as well as the traditional Entierro de Juan Carnaval (Burial of Juan Carnaval) near the main stage at Plaza Cívica de la Patria, also known as “Three Heads” plaza. The burial of this effigy, which symbolizes all that is impure, signifies a fresh beginning and the start of the period of Lent. Carnaval “Fiesta Tropical” festivities officially conclude at 2am.
 
For a festival zone map, 4-minute video and more information visit the Spanish-language Carnaval web site or contact the Ensenada Special Events Committee, tels. (646)120-5417 or (646)120-5447; e-mail 
 
Laissez-les bontemps rouler!