Carnaval fiestas in Puerto Vallarta, Merida and Morelia are cancelled this year. Campeche first cancelled and then reactivated its fiesta. Veracruz has decided to run its top-notch Mardi Gras festival in July.
Closer to home, Sayula will stage a virtual fiesta, much like they did last year, while Barra de Navidad officials have yet to decide on Carnaval fiesta this year, although one seasoned organizer there said it’s too late to put a program together.
Mazatlan, Sinaloa holds its famous Carnaval festival February 24 to March 1, with strict Covid-19 protocols and a reduction to 70 percent of capacity in the number of attendees allowed into events. According to that state’s health department, 77 percent of residents are fully vaccinated and, as of February 18, the state is at orange on the Covid stoplight register.
Only 237,000 spectators will be allowed at the parades along the 21-kilometer-long Malecon and the naval combat events, 40,000 in the Olas Altas zone, 20,000 at the Teodoro Mariscal stadium, 7,000 at the fair site, 3,500 in the Plazuela Machada and 500 in the Angel Peralta Theater.
Performers at the stadium include Gloria Trevi, Edith Márquez, Carin León, Natalia Jiménez and Alejandro Fernández. Security will be heavy, wih 200 state police and members of the Marina and Guardia Nacional. Hotel rooms will be in short supply in and near Mazatlan during the fiestas.
Carnavals in the Jalisco municipalities of Ameca and Autlan are going forward this year. Both offer banda concerts, parades, bullfights, charreadas, jaripeo, lucha libre, coronation dances and fair rides.
Those who are interested in the fiesta brava should head to Autlan, for bullfights scheduled on Saturday, February 26.