Brugal rum is sponsoring the following big band orchestras to play at the Avenida del Puerto in the Colonial City, starting at 9 pm:Monday, 22 February: Sin Fronteras Tuesday, 23 February: V?ctor Roque y la Gran Manzana Wednesday, 24 February: Manol? y La Banda del Truco Thursday, 25 February: Banda X Friday, 26 February: Parada Joven y Juan Manuel Saturday, 27 February: Grupo Contagio y Di?medes y el Grupo M?o Sunday, 28 February: K-Libre y La Banda ChulaPresidente beer is also sponsoring big band orchestras at the Avenida del Puerto. Bands to play as of 8 pm. Their schedule is:Thursday, 25 February: Banda Chula Friday, 26 February: Rokabanda Saturday, 27 February: Sin Fronteras Sunday, 28 February: Coco Band, To?o Rosario, Eddy Herrera. Other planned carnival activities are: Gran Gala Carnaval 99 at the Teatro La Fiesta, Hotel Jaragua on Friday, 26 February at 8 pm. Grand Carnival Parade, Sunday, 28 February starting at 2 pm along the Malec?n. Casa de Teatro at Arz. Meri?o Street in the Colonial City is exhibiting of works of art commemorative to Dominican carnival. Exhibiting are many well known Dominican painters, including C?ndido Bid?, Jorge Pineda, Antonio Guadalupe, Jos? Morillo, Ferm?n Ceballo, Paul Leonor, Limbert Vilorio, Polibio D?az, Pascal Macariello, Daniel de los Santos, Marcos Lora, Marino Hern?ndez, Domingo Batista, Jos? Mercader, Paul Giudicelli, Dionisio Banco, Silvano Lora, Bismarck Victoria and Miguel Ram?rez. For those who are not aware, the best Dominican carnival takes place, not in Santo Domingo, but in the city of La Vega, about an hour’s drive from Santo Domingo. EnviTravel Tours, a local travel agency is offering excursions to see the carnival parades of "diablos cojuelos" with tours departing 28 February from Santo Domingo. The excursion price of RD$325 includes round-trip transport, visit to the Santo Cerro Church and the old city of La Vega, open bar, lunch at the La Vega Country Club, tee shirts, and watching of the carnival parade in the afternoon. Departures are at 8:30 am, returning to Santo Domingo at 9:30 pm. Those taking the excursion should preferably wear two pairs slacks or jeans because the "diablos cojuelos" mischievously will thrust their balloons against those watching. For more information, call 565-5558 or email envitravel@codetel.net.doServices Travel’s excursion departs from the agency locale at R?mulo Betancourt 1567 on 28 February. Tel. 535-4290This is a once-and-a-lifetime adventure, highly recommended to tourists and residents in the DR. Fun for the entire family. Just follow the crowds, put your wallet in a safe place, and stay out of the reach of the fearful Diablos Cojuelos.
