2024 Travel News ArchiveTravel

Get ready! It’s Carnival time in Santo Domingo!!!

The Dominican Republic is currently celebrating the Lenten season that leads up to Easter Sunday, 31 March 2024. Aside from the very important religious significance of this time of year, there is also the carnival, a very old tradition with roots very far back in Spanish and African history. Most of the major urban centers, whether of provincial or of national status, celebrate carnival here. The parades are usually on Sundays in February and early March.

Punta Cana this year got an early start, hosting its carnival on Sunday, 3 February 2024. But traditionally, the famous carnival parades are those of La Vega with its devil-like characters; Montecristi with its bullwhip fights; Santiago and its famous characters such as “Roba la Gallina;” and, of course, Santo Domingo, that brings all together in one.

This year the National District carnival parade is taking place on Sunday, 3 March along the George Washington Avenue (Malecon) between the two obelisks (known as the ‘Male’ and ‘Female’ obelisks). The organizers expect at least 80 carnival troupes and hundreds of individuals to unfold the carnival spirit to the crowds that will line up the Malecon on both sides of the sea-bordering boulevard.

The mayor’s office, together with the Carnival Union of the National District announced the details. The prizes for the winning troupes are: first place: RD$75,000, second place: RD$60,000 and third place: RD$45,000 in each category.

In addition, the “La Gran Comparsa” prize will be awarded with a prize of RD$300,000, independent of the category awards.

The jury, chaired by Bolívar Troncoso Morales, is made up of Carlos Andújar Persinal, Pedro Ureña Read, Rolando Pérez Uribe, Avelino Stanley, Amarilis Mota, Luz Tamara Valdez San Pedro, Julia Castillo Mejía, Pedro Julio Quezada and Odalis Rosado.

Also, Margarita Lorenzo, Aristóteles Ponserrate, Mariano Hernández, Isis Martínez, José Domínguez, José Cuello, Jorge Guigni, Senia Nereyda Peña Rodríguez and Julio Encarnación.

A second Grand National Carnival Parade is set for the Malecon on Sunday, 17 March 2024 with representations of carnival groups from all around the country parading as of 2pm. This year, the carnival parade is dedicated to San Cristóbal. TV host Jatna Tavares is the queen of the 2024 Grand National Carnival Parade.

Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
Listin Diario
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27 February 2024