Mazatlán Gears up for its 126th Annual Carnival Celebrations

Mazatlán, Mexico – (December 21, 2023) – The Mazatlán Tourism Board is proud to announce that it will host its 126th annual Carnival celebrations from February 8-13, 2024. Organized by Mazatlán’s Institute of Culture, Tourism, and Art , the “Pearl of the Pacific’s” carnival is recognized as the largest festivity of its kind in Mexico and the third most significant celebration in the world. Inspired by the grandeur and elegance of the 17^th and 18^th century and the upcoming total solar eclipse to take place on April 8, 2024, this year’s theme is “Baroque Eclipse.” Mazatlán is the best location in the world to witness the eclipse, as it is in the direct path of totality and has the lowest probability of cloudy skies.  For more information, visit https://carnavalmazatlan.com/.

“Carnival is one of the city’s oldest traditions, and a great way to experience the art, culture, and community of Mazatlán. Though “Carnival” was recorded by Mazatlán historians as early as 1848, it wasn’t until 1898 that it became a week-long celebration complete with parades, floats, and social events,” said Edna Gutierrez, Director of Promotion and Marketing of the Mazatlán Tourism Board. “In 2023, Mazatlán recorded half-a-million visitors from around the world during Carnival week alone, and this year, the Institute of Culture, Tourism, and Art estimates the same number of visitors as hotels expect to reach bookings close to capacity.”

The theme will come to life through period costumes, wigs, makeup, and all-out decorations adorning the city. The six-day celebration will include two parades; the first will take place on Sunday, February 11, and run about 3 miles north along “El Malecon”, from Fisherman’s Monument to Punto Valentino, an iconic castle that serves as an entertainment center in Mazatlán. The second parade will close out the Carnival festivities on Tuesday, February 13, and run south along “El Malecon” starting from the Grand Aquarium of Mazatlán Sea of Cortes. Various cultural events are held on the days before the official start of Carnival, they include:

• An Evening of the Arts | February 3: To showcase Mazatlán’s incredible culture and talent, the Angela Peralta Theater, a landmark of the city and main performance-arts center, which opened its doors in 1881, will host ballet and live musical performances accompanied by an orchestra.
• The Naval Combat Fireworks Show | February 10: This fireworks show is Carnival’s most popular annual event. The show features a choreographed fireworks display over the Pacific Ocean as visitors line El Malecon to view the spectacular lights show. The event commemorates Mazatlán’s victory in the battle against a French naval ship that tried to invade the city in 1864.
• Street Party: Throughout Carnival, visitors can join the all-access Street Party (6pm – 4am) along Olas Altas Beach in Downtown Mazatlán. Attractions and activities line the beach, including food stands, live musical band performances, and DJs throughout the party route. The area is within walking distance of the city’s Historic Center.

Moreover, some of the most engaging aspects of Carnival are the multiple coronations held by city officials, where Mazatlán locals are crowned the Carnival queens and kings. A preliminary calendar of events includes the coronations of the King of Joy on Thursday, February 8, the Queen of the Floral Games on Friday, February 9, and the Queen of the Carnival on Saturday, February 10. The coronations occur in the Teodoro Mariscal Stadium, the main baseball stadium in Mazatlán, which will be decorated with Baroque-style stages set up on the diamond pitch. The coronations feature world-famous musical performances, for example last year, Gloria Gaynor was the special headline artist. Next year’s Carnival artists will be announced soon.