Held every year during the week leading up to Ash Wednesday, the Ponce Carnival in Puerto Rico is a HUGE celebration attended by thousands of locals and visitors to the island. This year’s event takes place from February 15th to 21st.
The Carnaval de Ponce as it is known locally is one of the oldest carnivals, with its roots dating 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.
Like the recent San Sebastian Street Festival, one of the highlights of the Ponce Carnival is the Vejigantes. The Vejiantes are demon-like characters, wearing brightly colored papier-mâché horned masks and capes who parade through the streets with their vejigas (dried-up cow bladders that look like balloons), and hitting festival goers as they pass by. The hitting is said to scare away those evil spirits…
Ponce’s main square will be alive with colorful parades, vibrant bomba y plena music, traditional Puerto Rican food and crowds of people enjoying the party atmosphere. The majority of the parades and events take place in the evening during week days and Saturday. Sunday the events start around 1pm
Full schedule for the Ponce Carnival based on La Perla Del Sur:
Wednesday February 15 @ 6pm
Opening Ceremony that includes the Festival de las Mascaras. Leaving the Museum Francisco “Pancho” Coimbre
Main Stage in front of City Hall
Music by Grupo Esencia
Thursday February 16 @ 7pm
King Momo parade
Leaving the Museum Francisco “Pancho” Coimbre
Main Stage in front of City Hall
Music by Grupo Bambalué, Yolanda Rivera y Luigi Texidor, junto a la Orquesta Abran Paso
Friday February 17 @7pm
Crowning of the Child Queen
Leaving the Museum Francisco “Pancho” Coimbre
Main Stage in front of City Hall
Music by Mini Ballet Salsa Sur y Farukko
Saturday February 18 @ 7pm
Crowning of the Carnival Adult Queen
Leaving the Museum Francisco “Pancho” Coimbre
Main Stage in front of City Hall
Music by Ballet Municipal Salsa Sur y Divino
Sunday February 19 @ 1pm
Main Carnaval Parade
Leaving Parque Pasivo Julio E. Monagas to Miguel Pou Blvd, continuing along Isabel Street to the City Hall
Monday February 20 @7pm
The Carnaval Grand Ball
Main Stage in front of City Hall
Music by NG2 and Grupo ManÃa
Tuesday February 21 @7pm
Burial of the Sardine
Leaving the Museum Francisco “Pancho” Coimbre
Main Stage in front of City Hall
Music by Rikswing and Tito Nieves
Check out this photo collection from rjdavellar’s on youtube
What: Ponce Carnival 2012
When: February 15th to 21st (date varies yearly but is the week before Ash Wednesday)
Where: Downtown Ponce
Photo resource: Vejiante by Rian Castillo using Creative Commons Licence
