The Carnaval of VeraCruz

Veracruz Carnival is the home of the world’s largest temporary stadium holding the greatest paid annual attendance. Latin America’s most spectacular non-Brazilian Carnaval does not officially claim this title but their total official estimated paid attendance for six paradesbeginning on Carnaval Saturday is 3,000,000. No other parade or Carnaval comes close to what historic Port of Veracruz has done every year since 1923.

The seating set up, like exclusive sky boxes in a stadium, promotes lots of socializing among friends and relatives who know they can leave or arrive late and not lose their coveted position. Hundreds of long-time licensees put up more than double the 200,000 seats erected for Southern California’s New Years Day Rose Bowl Parade A Carnaval spectator gets to enjoy countless Carnaval groups including over 50 plus salsa dance groups (bailes tropicales) and three samba bands.

Official
 http://www.veracruz-puerto.gob.mx ||
Search this site for Carnaval by google which unfortunately gave 404's for all 26 of the previous Carnaval pages and no new 2005 pages as with less than 30 days before the 2005 Carnaval on 4FEB. However you may be more fortunate, includes {Translate this page} feature. However, Veracruz Carnival's main events change little each year. Orient yourself around the malecon, the zocolo and Ash Wednesday. You will find the Carnaval begins the Tuesday before the 7 days before Carnaval Tuesday with a children's parade, a parade to retire Bad Humor and a ceremony in the Zocalo and concludes many parades later on Ash Wednesday  with last courtship and interment of Juan Carnaval
2004 Carnaval Program (in espanol from veracurz-puerto.gob.mx)

  veracruz-turismo.gob.mx

veracruzpuerto.gob.mx/  city site by the state

 .2camels.com/destination125.php3
"Jarochos create these fantastic floats, known as carros alegóricos or allegorical cars, with true Mexican flair using bright colors, papier mâché figures, large flowers, and live entertainment.  ...While the floats in the parades don't change that much, a Carnavelgoer needs to experience at least one of the four spectacular night parades where the water, lights, rhythms and interaction between the crowd and dancers gives back as much energy as a visitor wants to put into the potent mix. "

The parades features hundreds of beautiful, scantily clad women shaking to Latin dance rhythms on some pretty large floats featuring beer and soda company props. The floats in the parades will not change too much but a Carnavelesco traveler needs to experience at least one of the four spectacular night parades where the water, lights, rhythms and interaction between the crowd and dancers gives back as much energy as you want to put into the potent mix.

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In the week before Ash Wednesday, Veracruz explodes with Carnaval, one of the best in Mexico. By local tradition, Carnaval begins with the ritual burning of "ill humor" and ends with the funeral of "Juan Carnaval.".... Visitors flood in from all over the country, packing the streets and hotels.... On the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, the longest and most lavish of the Carnaval parades takes place on the malecón.

Vera Cruz residents or Jarochos are friendly and eager to explain their special feeling for their home. Their deep attraction for their alluring yet intangible city soul can best be felt at the Zocalo. Year-round the Zocalo is filled with people entertaining themselves outdoors at all hours amongst a festive atmosphere of outdoor cafes, street musicians and the beauty of the historic buildings and tall trees. Throughout the heightened atmosphere of Carnaval many free events can be enjoyed on the Zocalo main stage while dozens of street muscians perform at the perimeters. This main Vera Cruz central plaza is also the location for the two ritual dramas that open and close the Carnaval.

Do not miss your chances to dance at the Zocalo, the many other excellent Jarochos couples dancing to the rhythms of the Caribbean will elevate you and your partner. Salsa, cumbia, reggae, and marimba are popular but a special place in the heart is held for the music and dance known as Danzón which first arrived from Cuba in 1880. Danzon is a graceful almost ritual like couples dance with a warmth and natural cadence that speaks volumes about the Vera Cruz culture. This is the City which gave the world La Bamba and in 1992 erected a museum to the great pre World War II musician, Agustín Lara, whose 1936 hit song Veracruz is the sentimental anthem of the city and a good Danzón number as well.

Many visitors pass on the sold out parades although tickets can be easily obtained if you or your hotel has a connection. Instead they immerse themselves in the rhythms of one the America’s oldest Carnaval cities. Buses can take you to Mexico’s oldest archaeological treasures including most of the mysterious 3000 year old gigantic Olmec heads which some believe represent African facial features. Vera Cruz is where Cortez. The Cuban conqueror of the powerful Aztecs burned his ships in 1519 to give his men no other option than to go forth in their quest to conquer the Aztez rulers in Mexico City. The fierce local Toltec nation was at war with the Aztecs and agreed to an alliance with the conquistador.

The City’s large tourist industry depends primarily on natives from Mexico City who appreciate the great seafood at bargain prices and plenty of hotel rooms for less than $60 per night and even less than $10 if your not particular about hot water or air conditioning. During Carnaval, the urban hotels sell out so be sure to have good paperwork on your reservations to avoid unpleasant surprises at check-in. Also discriminating travelers can stay nearby in Boca Del Río with its first class tourist infrastructure of resort hotels, convention center and beautiful beaches. Be sure to visit Boca Del Rio’s gastronomic center on the banks of the Jamapa River easily accessible through the extensive bus and taxi system of Veracruz.

A few hundred miles down the coast is the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico’s premier international vacation region. From the spectacular high rise hotel vacation paradise at Cancun, to the lower density but still bustling sun and surf hot spots of Isla Mujeres. Playa del Carmen and Cozumel island you can avoid speaking Spanish and enjoy as much vacation luxury as you can afford. This is where the Mayans built their greatest Cities and pyramids based on a sophisticated knowledge of the same 26,000 year cycles of the earth which the ancient Egyptians used. Nowadays college students come here to conduct simpler versions of wild bacchanal for their infamous Spring breaks.

 History of the Carnival in Veracruz by veracruz-turismo.gob.mx || Official Pages with a History in English:
 "That's how our Carnival festivity, considered at present as the most important in Mexico, turned into a beautiful and traditional night without comparison. It communicates joy and enthusiasm to visitors and port dwellers that lives the rhythms and dances existing in our friendship town."

< City Museum Historic Fotos

Veracruz Carnaval Schedule in aforum
We've grouped Veracruz with other Latin American Carnaval Cities while we anxiously await their web components

Samba Groups in Mexico by worldsamba.org
In need of an update. Contact
Carnival in Veracruz by bushwings
by Bushpilot Ronn Fox "Dressed to the nines, we all assembled at the appointed hour to begin an odyssey that may happen only once in a lifetime."
La Candelaria in Tlacotalpan  by Janice Carraher for mexconnect.com
"50 weeks out of the year Tlacotalpan sits in its torpid tropical slumber, but starting late January and running for two weeks it celebrates the Fiesta de la Candelaria. For most of these two weeks the Feria (fair) is made up of a carnival, bailes tropicales (salsa dances), and a very large tianguis (temporary market). " Tlacotalpan is a river town 45 minutes from VeraCruz

GROUPS

Carnaval Veracruzano bookings by http://www.sroartists.com || more 
Traditional Mexican dance favorite Grupo "Quetzalli" de Veracruz unites with the fiery ensemble, Combo Ninguno,  and Tlen-Huicani (the Singers of Veracruz) in celebration of the world’s most infectious music…salsa! With a rainbow of costumes and a river of rhythms, this 35-member company renders a vivid and awe-inspiring spectacular of the Caribbean.

TOURS

Veracruz Tours by google
 Birding Tours dominate but there's whitewater, archeological, historical, sightseeing, and mushroom hunting too.