Mazatlan : News & Views
La Fiesta del Año
By John Mitchell
Jan 1, 2008

For a few days each winter, old Mazatlan’s usually peaceful beachside thor oughfare is transformed into a party zone. A jubilant river of humanity flows down el Paseo Olas Altas, past kiosks dispensing food and beer. On elevated stages, traditional Latino and rock groups compete for attention, and scantily clad dancers gyrate the night away.

Carnaval is held the week before Ash Wednesday, giving the city’s mainly Catholic population a chance to let off steam before the renunciations of Lent. The chaos of the original unruly affair—involving thrown eggshells stuffed with flour, dyes and ashes—was replaced in 1898, when the first organized festival endorsed more civilized activities such as bicycle parades and costume balls.

Today, Carnaval attracts more than 400,000 visitors annually, putting it in the same league as Mardi Gras in New Orleans and the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Mazatlan’s festivities include concerts, food fairs, literary events and even a mock naval battle using fireworks instead of cannons.

The highlight of the week is the coronation of the Carnaval Queen, which always includes performances by well-known Mexican and international musical artists. The parade following her coronation and another on the final day of Carnaval are the two largest processions, with dozens of imaginatively decorated floats, marching bands and dancers filing past enthusiastic crowds.

This year, Carnaval runs from January 31 to February 5, and the crowning of the Carnaval Queen takes place on Saturday night at the baseball stadium, followed by her parade the next day.