Ahola

Where the Carnival takes place ... "
Visitors and locals scream, sing, shout and dance amid confetti and ribbons. Bands of all kinds play the infectious rhythms of the State of Sinaloa. And thefood-oh, the food-camarones (shrimp) prepared in every way possible, washed down with ice cold Pacifico beer, for it's Carnaval Time, Mazatlán's biggest pachanga (fiesta). For seven miles, all along thebeachfront Malecón, beginning at Paseo de las Olas Altas, the festivities have been attracting celebrants for over 100 years. | | |
People arrive from all over Mexico and abroad for Carnaval,Mazatlán's celebration of Mardi Gras. Said to be the third largest in the world after those in New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro, Carnaval is this Pacific resort city's most attended annual event, attractingas many as 300,000-400,000 revelers. Since 1897, it has been traditionally held the week before Lent.Like its big sisters in New Orleans and Rio, the celebration offers parades, special shows, andthe coronation of La Reina de Carnaval, Queen of Carnaval. The "Carnavaldome" on Avenida. del Mar on Playa Norte, north of town, is the primary focus of the street action. This temporary assortment ofstages and booths features continuous music--tropicale, mariachi, rock, and norteña--food vendors, outrageous costume-wearing, and all-night dancing throughout the festival. Avenida del Mar is also thesite of two fireworks displays, the traditional castillo--a castle-like fireworks platform unique to Mexico-on Saturday night, and an offshore fireworks finale representing a mock naval battle, incommemoration of Mazatlán's 1864 victory over the French Navy, on Sunday night. The main events kick off the Friday evening before Shrove Tuesday with the juegos florales, or "floral games" in the citybaseball stadium. During this well-attended event, a Flower Queen is crowned and literary awards are bestowed upon contestants who have written the best "flowery verse." Top prize is the prestigious...