On Saturday 15 February it will be carnival time for Santo Domingo. 10 nights of merengue have been planned leading up to the closing parade on 2 March, in which 1,000 dance groups and 50 floats have registered their participation.
The National Carnival Commission will organize the Santo Domingo Carnival this year and sponsors include Presidente, Pepsi, Codetel, Brugal and Coca-Cola. These companies will work closely with the ministries of Tourism, Culture and Education and the city government of Santo Domingo.
The schedule for merengue band presentations at the Avenida del Puerto starting nightly at 9pm is as follows:
Saturday, 15 February: Wilfrido Vargas
Sunday, 16 February: Jose Pe?a Suazo y la Banda Gorda
Friday, 21 February: Kinito Mendez
Saturday, 22 February: Pablo Martinez
Sunday, 23 February: Pochy Familia y la Coco Band
Wednesday, 26 February: Jossie Esteban
Thursday, 27 February: Hector Acosta y los Toros Bands
Friday, 28 February: Rammon Orlando y Orquesta Internacional
Sunday, 2 March: final closing parade with Diomedes, Grupo Mio, Yarumba and Marcos Caminero .
For more information, call the Dominican Institute of Folklore at Tel. 685-6325 and 682-3918.