Barranquilla Carnival 2017

Barranquilla Carnival is the second biggest street carnival in the world, drawing in 1.5 million people to the city.

Only the Rio Carnival in Brazil can boast a bigger audience, and when you consider other famous global carnivals, such as Notting Hill-London, Mardi Gras-New Orleans, and Cologne-Germany, that’s quite an impressive feat.

Barranquilla Carnival is little known outside of South America, and while that may do its worldwide reputation a great disservice. It in fact creates an amazing, diverse, and authentic experience, that has not become a fully tainted tourist trap.

Every year, Barranquilla Carnival begins on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is always 46 days before Easter, and Easter itself is a movable feast. This means Barranquilla Carnival has taken place across the months of February and March.

2017 Barranquilla Carnival – – Saturday the 25^th to Tuesday the 28^th of February.

In 2003 UNESCO declared Barranquilla Carnival a Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Quite a title, and in a nutshell it represents ‘living culture’ and UNESCO’s mission to protect intangible culture. In this case, the language, music, dance, traditions and rituals of the Carnival, the 25,000 performers, and the diverse range of musical expressions and ethnic groups represented.

The first day of the carnival (Saturday 25^th February this year) opens with the Battle of the Flowers. Considered the most important event of the carnival, as all participants flow through the city on a 5-to-6-hour float parade.

The Carnival Queen leads the parade, and this year’s queen is Stephanie Mendoza Vargas. A 22-year-old Law Student and Barranquilla native. She will be accompanied by ‘King Momo’ a character associated with the king of carnivals. This year played by Germán Álvarez Cabrera, a 54 year old chosen for his Cumbia music skills. An Afro-Caribbean, dance orientated, traditional music, of the Colombian and Panama Atlantic coasts.

Sunday sees the Parade of Traditions take place, or the great parade. This is a foot parade with everyone walking, dancing, and performing along the route. Colourful and magnificent masks are popular. Performers compete during the day to win a place in the followi
ng years Battle of Flowers, like a promotion to the higher league.

On the Monday of Barranquilla carnival, an orchestral festival takes place. With Latin and Afro Caribbean bands performing well into the following day. A fantasy parade, focusing on the performers costumes also occurs this day.

The final day of the Barranquilla carnival, the Tuesday, has a symbolic burial of Joselito Carnaval.

Joselito represents the joy of the carnival, and his demise and burial is mourned by all the carnival goers as things come to an end. The mood is lightened with a comedy festival on the Tuesday evening.

As a visitor you will probably be looking to purchase a ticket for one of the many ‘Palcos’ along the routes. The Spanish word ‘Palco’ basically means  a Loge or private box in English, and in the carnival sense relates to the private enclosures used to view the carnival parades. The cost of a ticket varies depending on the location of the Palco, and from where you purchase the ticket. There are many touts and outlets who add on service charges along the way. But it should be relatively easy to source tickets. Expect to pay around 200,000 pesos for a three day ticket, with free beer on day one.

You can also expect to be sprayed with foam and flour throughout the course of celebrations. As people from all walks of life come together for the carnival, making it unique in Colombia at breaking down social, racial, and economic barriers.

If you are really keen to get involved earlier, the weeks leading up to  the main parades also include various events and parties.

Baranquilla Carnival 2017 – Build Up Schedule

20-January Flag-raising, Intendencia Fluvial, Calle 30 # 46-10 • 3:00 pm

21- January Bando Reading Peace Square , Court La Magdalena. • 8:00 pm

28-January First tour of verbenas

29-January Carnival Seedling, Sacred Heart Park, Tropical Almond Park • 2:00 pm

03-February Queen’s Friday and Orchestras, The Magdalena district court, Cra. 6 cl 35 • 7:00 pm

04-February Band and Coronation of the Kings of the Children’s Carnival, Peace Square • 4:00 pm

05-Febuary Paco Paco in Barrio Abajo, Barrio Abajo, Cra. 51 between Calles 48 and 49B • 3:00 pm

10-Febuary Festival of Dances of Relation and Specials, Homage to Angela Pedroza, Plaza de la Paz

11-Febuary Party of Comparsas, Plaza de la Paz, Calle 53 between Cra. 45 and 46 • 4:00 pm

12-Febuary Dance and Cumbias Party, Peace Square • 10:00 a.m.

17-Febuary Guacherna, Carrera 44 with Calle 70 • 7:00 pm

18-February Second round of verbenas

19-February Parade of the Children’s Carnival, Carrera 53 with Calle 70 • 11 a.m.

23-February Coronation of the Queen and King Momo, Metropolitan Stadium parking • 8:00 pm

24-February Third round of verbenas, Dance in the Street