Carnivals

Date

March 1 -4 

Venue

Diferentes puntos del país

Event details

The Panama Carnival is one of the country's most iconic and vibrant festivities, filled with joy, color, music, and tradition. Celebrated during the four days leading up to Ash Wednesday, it is a unique blend of culture, folklore, and entertainment that attracts both locals and visitors from around the world.

Key Elements of the Panama Carnival:

Queens and Comparsas: Each region or town celebrates with its own Carnival Queen who leads parades filled with decorated floats, comparsas (dance groups), and extravagant costumes. The queens are the heart of the festivity and represent the beauty and festive spirit of the people.
Culecos: During the day, culecos take center stage. These are street parties held in plazas or open areas where live music is enjoyed while large trucks spray water on the crowd, providing relief from the tropical heat.
Music and Dance: Music is the soul of the Carnival, with rhythms like salsa, merengue, reggaeton, tamboritos, and other traditional Panamanian expressions that get everyone dancing.
Regional Celebrations:

Las Tablas: Known for being the most traditional and famous Carnival in Panama, where the streets are divided between "Calle Arriba" and "Calle Abajo" in a competition of floats, music, and spectacles.  
Panama City: Modern celebrations with concerts, parades, and massive events in central locations like the Cinta Costera.
Interior of the country: In provinces like Chitré and Penonomé, local traditions are kept alive with a more folkloric focus.
Costumes and Tradition: Masks and traditional costumes are an essential part of the celebrations, blending indigenous, Spanish, and African influences. In some areas, you can witness the dance of the "diablos sucios" and other indigenous cultural expressions.  

Closing with the Burial of the Sardine: The festivities end with a symbolic event that marks the beginning of Lent, where the excesses of Carnival are replaced by a period of reflection.

The Panama Carnival is an explosion of life and culture, an unforgettable experience for those seeking an authentic celebration in an atmosphere filled with energy and tradition.