Carnival

You don't have to go all the way to Brazil to experience a Latin American Carnival. Carnival in Panama is celebrated with same revelry and abandon as New Orleans or Rio de Janeiro. Celebrated in Panama since the early 1900's, this big party begins in the four days before Ash Wednesday. All work and seriousness stops and the main streets of Panama City are filled with parades, floats ,masks, costumes and confetti. The largest celebrations take place in Panama City and Las Tablas.

Las Tablas, a provincial town about l30 miles west of Panama City, is considered by many the best place to celebrate Carnival. The atmosphere is more folkloric and enlivened by an intense, traditional rivalry between "high street" and "low street" for the fanciest costumes and most creative floats.

www.carnavaleslastablas.com
www.callearriba.com & www.calleabajo.com

Panama City Carnival schedule

Friday before Ash Wednesday: Everything begins with the selection the Carnival Queen and her attendants. The queen then reigns over the daily parade and official activities.

The cities best hotels sponsor related gastronomical and dancing events: Cuban Week at the El Panama, Dominican Republic week at the Caesar Park and Puerto Rican Week at the Riande Continental.

Saturday: Vía Espana, the main street of Panama City, fills with people intent on partying . There is a small parade, music blasts everywhere, (mostly salsa, typical Panamanian and Afro-Cuban) and street vendors abound. On every Carnaval day, in a friendly atmosphere, people dance, carouse and socialize. In the evening the celebration is mainly indoors at the cities many discos, bars and hotels of all classes and goes on until dawn.

One Panamanian Carnival tradition are the "mojaderas" or "getting drenched" in water. By fire hose, water balloon or bucket you come being prepared to get good and wet. It is part of the fun and in the hot tropical sun, a welcome respite.

Sunday: Sunday at midday there is a large,beautiful "pollera" parade. Polleras are Panama's national costume and thousands of women and girls deck themselves out in this lovely national dress to march by groups in the parade or simply promenade.

Monday: More of the same with a small parade and the streets filled with revelers.

Shrove Tuesday: This is the biggest Carnival celebration day. A huge New Orleans style parade with highly decorated floats and costumed brigades from all sectors of society. The party finishes in the early hours of the morning.

Carnival Lodging: Panama City lodging has many places to stay in all price ranges.

Las Tablas has few hotels. Plans to stay in Las Tablas for Carnival are best with Panamanian friends.

If partying in an exotic and friendly place is something you enjoy, you won't want to miss Carnival in Panama!