What´s on Cartagena, Carnaval 2011

To get Cartagena residents in the mood to party, from 18th February to 8th March, there is an exhibition showing some of the Cartagena Carnaval costumes in the Espacio Mediterranéo shopping and leisure centre.

The main Carnaval events in Cartagena which could interest visitors are the 2 main parades, on the 5th and the 8th March.

There are other activities around the Carnaval including a choreographic dance competition and a competition between the Chirigotas, which begin on the 26th February.

Although the smaller local carnivals have a homely atmosphere and provide wonderful entertainment for families and local residents, if you want to see a bigger parade you need to travel to either  Águilas, the big parade in Santiago de la Ribera, or Cartagena. 

Cartagena is famous for its' Chirigotas , Click for info about Chirigotas, witty, irrelevant and satirical, groups who perform set routines with outrageous verse and costumes, a throwback to the days of jesters and fools, and the King of the Carnaval celebrations. 

The festivities are hosted by the larger than life figure of Don Carnal, the personification of lust, excess and pleasure, engaged in continual combat with Dona Cuaresma, the looming shadow of lent, representing austerity, piety and denial.

The two clash throughout, Don Carnal ruling the for the pleasures of the Carnaval, finally defeated by Dona Cuaresma as we enter lent and the 40 day run-up to Semana Santa.

In Cartagena the festivities begin with the election of the Carnaval Queen and her attendants prior to the carnival, followed by a competition in which the chirigotas compete with each other in a 2 night spectacular of wit, humour and colourful display.

Although it's vastly entertaining, some of the humour is lost if you're not a fluent Spanish speaker or understand local politics, so for most of us, it's not our first choice for carnival entertainment. If you just want to see what they are, they perform in the Plaza del Icue( the statue of the little boy with the fish) and Plaza san Sebastian, a bit further down from the Icue.The competition heats are in the Teatro Circo and are paid entry.

One other feature of Cartagenas' carnival which has no language barriers, however, is the competition of the choreographed groups which takes place on 27th February and involves all the dance groups in full costume doing their stuff.

The parades head off down through the main shopping streets and are atmospheric, with many spectators joining in as the dancers pass by. It´s nice to walk with the parade a bit, rather than just staying in one place throughout, so don´t be shy to move and head to a new viewpoint.  

Venues for the Cartagena Carnaval

Nuevo Teatro Circo

Pabellon de Deportes Instituto Jimenez de la Espada.

Plaza Juan XXIII

Plaza del Ayuntamiento

Pabellón Central de Deportes Wssell de Guimbarda

 

Programme for Carnaval Cartagena 2011, in english

Saturday 26th February

5pm Election of Children´s Queen and her attendants, performances by children´s dance groups and children's entertainment.

Free entry

10pm Election of adult Queen, presentation of Don Carnal and Doña Cuaresma, performance by the Chirigotas of Cartagena and performance by dance groups of the carnival.

 

Sunday 27th February

IX Concurso de Grupos Coreográficos, Carnival dance groups competition

Pabellón Central de Deportes Wssell de Guimbarda

 5.30pm Childrens dance competition

9pm Adults competition

 

 

Saturday 5th March

12 Midday. performance of the Chirigotas in Plaza del Icue and Plaza de san Sebastian.

6pm Grand Carnaval parade.

The gathering point for this is Plaza Héroes de Cavite, which is the main portside area, then the groups file off up Calle Mayor, Plaza san Sebastián, Puertas de Murcia, Calle Carmen, Carlos III, Ronda, San Juan, Ángel Bruna , Paseo Alfonso XIII

9.30pm Grand carnival dance in Plaza san Sebastian, with group.

10pm Another dance  in the sports ctr, Jiménez de la Espada.

 

Sunday 6th March

Childrens carnaval day celebrated in the Plaza de Juan XXIII

11am Workshops for children´s carnaval make-up

12 Midday children´s spectacular

1pm Children´s fancy dress competition

 

12 Midday, Performance of the Chirigotas in Plaza del icue and Plaza san Sebastian.

 

 

Tuesday 8th March

8.30pm Parade of floats, chirigotas and choreographic groups.

The gathering point for this is Plaza Héroes de Cavite, which is the main portside area, then the groups file off up Calle Mayor, Plaza san Sebas tián, Puertas de Murcia, Calle carmen, Carlos III, Ronda, San juan, Ángel Bruna , Paseo Alfonso XIII

The parade finishes at the pabellón of the Instituto Jiménez de la Espada. Once inside, the prize giving for the best floats takes place at 10pm then at 11.50pm the effigy of Don Carnal is burnt and the carnaval is over.

 

For a list of Carnaval parades across the Region of Murcia, Click Carnaval in Murcia 2011

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