The Carnaval Ponceño also known as the Ponce Carnival, is an annual week long celebration that takes place in the city of Ponce, the week before Ash Wednesday.
The Ponce Carnival is one of the largest festivals that takes place in Ponce and features parades, floats, Vejigantes, music and more.
This year due to the January 7th earthquake and aftershocks the organizers of the Carnaval Ponceño have decided it will ONLY be held on Sunday February 23.
For Sunday February 23, 2020, this is the current itinerary:
11am – 1pm, Baile de Mascaras
1pm, The main Carnaval Ponceño parade with the Rey Momo, Carnival Queen and Princesses. The parade starts at the intersection of Bulevard Miguel Pou and the Centro del Sur Mall and heads along Puente de los Leones, and Calle Isabel. It will end at the Teatro La Perla.
7pm-8pm, The Burial of the Sardina and the crowing of Rey Mono and the Queen
9pm, Live music.
The Ponce carnival is one of the oldest celebrations in the western hemisphere and dates back to 1858. It marks the beginning of Lent and the week long celebration culminates with a fake funeral procession and the Burial of the Sardine.
Just like the recent San Sebastian Street Festival the Carnaval Ponceño features musical events, artisans and the famous parades of Vejigantes
Vejigantes are colorfully dressed characters that wear scary paper mâché masks that dance and blow horns along the parade route.
Typically the parade ends at the Casa Alcalde (Post City Hall) in the main Plaza, Plaza las Delicias. Plaza las Delicias is also the main area where the majority of the events will take place during the week long carnival. But as mentioned this year these areas will not be hosting the carnival
Main events to look out for during the Carnaval Ponceño are:
- Parade of the Carnival’s King, “Rey Momo”
- Crowning of the Carnival Queen and Princesses
- Main Carnival Parade
- Dance of the Mask
- Closing of the Carnival with the Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine)
This is a very popular event in Puerto Rico, so you can expect large crowds, especially during the main events of the carnival. Plan on arriving early to get a parking place and a good vantage point for the festivities.
Carnaval Ponceño – Ponce Carnival 2020
When: February 23, 2020 ONLY
Where: Areas around Bulevard Miguel Pou, Centro del Sur Mall, Puente De Los Leones, Calle Isabel and the Teatro La Perla.
Parking: Yes plus street parking
Photos: 1. Aaron Fellmeth Photography, 2. Chris Bentley, 3. Aaron Fellmeth Photography, using creative commons license.
