Mazatlán Carnival Parade
Experiencing one of the largest Carnival celebrations in the world along the Mazatlán malecón.
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The Carnival in Mazatlán is one of the world's largest, captivating locals and visitors alike with its vibrant celebrations. Spanning six days from Thursday to Tuesday, the city comes alive with a myriad of events scattered across its streets. The centerpiece of the festivities is the Sunday Parade, which winds its way through the historic Centro district, showcasing the city's rich cultural heritage. On Tuesday, the parade retraces its steps, journeying from the northern section of the malecón back to the heart of the Centro district.
What sets the Mazatlán Carnival apart is its rich musical tradition, particularly its abundance of brass bands and live Banda Music performances. Along the Malecón at Olas Atlas Beaches and in the adjacent Centro Histórico, the air pulses with the infectious rhythms of these lively performances, adding to the carnival's energetic atmosphere.
Below is a collage of giant Monigotes that highlight the theme of the carnival. These giant Monigotes made their grand appearance several weeks before the start of the carnival along the malecón. The majority of them were placed along the waterfront, and one was placed at the famous Plazuela Machado. The theme for this year's carnival was the Solar Eclipse, inspired by the upcoming celestial event in Mazatlán. Depictions of the sun and moon have been cleverly woven into the displays, adding a touch of cosmic wonder to the carnival festival.
One of the most anticipated events is the Naval Fireworks, held on Saturday night. It is a re-enactment of the French attack on the city in 1864, the French naval ship Cordeliere tried to invade Mazatlán. The residents of Mazatlán fought back and held off the attack. This event is meant to commemorate this victory in battle! However, the fireworks started at 11 pm which was a little too late for little Aliya so we focused on viewing the carnival parades on Sunday and Tuesday.
To watch the Sunday parade we booked a table with dinner at the Olas Altas Inn Hotel & Spa. This included a 3-course meal, open bar from 4-8 pm, and seats next to the parade. Seeing the floats lit up at night was such a unique sight. We arrived at around 3 pm and the parade started to come by the hotel at around 7:45 pm.
The Sunday night parade was absolutely stunning! We were utterly captivated by the intricate decorations adorning the floats and the dazzling array of costumes. The atmosphere was electric, with an undeniable energy permeating the air. The streets glowed with the sparkle of vibrant costumes and radiant smiles all around.
We had a blast at the Sunday parade and were ready for more! The Tuesday parade started at 4 pm and went from the north section of the malecón back down to the centro district. We arrived about a half hour before hey were set to begin and found a viewing spot near the start of the parade. This second day of the carnival was a little less crowded and we got a front row spot to view the performers.
Here are some of the video clips of the performers over the two parades.
The dancers put on an amazing show with moves, costumes, and choreography that truly showcased their skills!
We enjoyed seeing the floats and performers over both days, getting to see them both lit up and in the daylight. The nearly week long Carnival event was something you need to experience for yourself. The music, the visuals, and the joyous atmosphere made for an amazing time. Aliya even got to sit on a horse as the cowboys came by at the end of the parade! Happy exploring!
