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#455958 01/22/13 07:45 AM
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The San Pedro Town Council declares Carnival 2013 a Big Time Event this time around. In an effort to discourage vandalism and destruction to property, to promote San Pedro and make Carnival an annual tourist attraction, to discourage aggressive behavior and improper touching of persons, the Mayor and the Cultural Committee have proposed to enhance on this cultural tradition and make it a sensational attraction for both locals and tourists.

A few bold and original incentives have been planned to make this event a thrilling experience.  First of all the programmers will step up the celebration from three to five days.  Here's a plan of the events to be announced formally by the Mayor.  

Day One, Friday Feb 8:
  Noche de Enmascarados. Witty or scary jesters going around town playing pranks on people.

Day Two, Saturday Feb 9:  Sabado de Bando Ball. A grand masquerade ball at the Angel Nu�ez Auditorium with live band and entertainment, food and drinks galore. Masks, feathers and necklaces suggested.  Selection of Carnival Queen by crowd acclamation.

Day Three, Sunday Feb10: 
Carnival Comparsas throughout the day, Block Party at Central Park with entertainment singing, dancing, musical renditions, food and bar galore.

Day Four, Monday Feb 11:
  Comparsas throughout the day.  Judging of groups

Day Five, Tuesday, Feb 12:
  Final Day of Comparsas.  Entertainment at park at 7 p.m. sharp, Announcement and presentation of Comparsa Winners,

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  No painting on Saturday night, Sunday or Monday any at all.
Painting will be allowed ONLY ON TUESDAY THE FINAL DAY. All painting will be confined from Wet Willy's beach area all the way up north to Boca Del Rio Park and beyond.  Painting in the downtown area will not be allowed.

The San Pedro Town Council and Culture Committee invite everyone to participate fully to make this year's Carnival a resounding tourist attraction and fun for everyone. Viva La Isla Bonita and Viva El Carnaval.

MORE HERE


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Letter to the Editor: Thoughts on Carnaval 2013, San Pedro Sun

Dear Editor:

Kindly allow me to share with your readers a letter I wrote to our San Pedro Town Council regarding the changes being made to the 2013 Carnaval in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye.

Dear Mayor Danny & Councilors,

Thank you for inviting the community to voice our opinion on the upcoming Carnaval Festivities. I am sure that together we can come up with a meaningful decision as we move forward.

First and foremost let's not forget that the community of this beautiful island was founded under religious beliefs and traditions. This culture, and the beauty of our Island combined, created a heaven for tourism; a demanding industry.

The debate on Carnaval has always been there, I believe that it is now more pronounce due to the influx of both national and foreign immigrants who don't understand what Carnaval is all about, therefore no respect for it. There needs to be mutual respect for those that are not playing and for those who are playing as well, including the comparsas. It needs to be made clear that vandalism is NOT part of the tradition, as many have suggested. There is always a risk in doing business - having to close early on Tuesday or having to cover signs once a year will not make them go bankrupt.

Below I share my opinions on Carnaval:

*Close traffic on Barrier Reef and Pescador drive on Sunday, Monday & Tuesday from 1:00PM - 11:00PM. Traffic could be diverted to the back street at these times.

*Carnaval Zone should remain at the Town Core; Pescador Drive, Barrier Reef Drive and the beach, from the San Pedro Primary School to Belize Bank.

*Police Presence is eminent especially on Tuesday between 5:00PM - Midnight, unruly behavior should be escorted off the zone.

*Mutual Respect; non players should expect to get painted while in the zone just as it will be an offence for a player to paint someone outside of the zone. Many fights have been instigated by people that are not playing just to prove a point. Whoever does not have the desire to get painted should stay away from the zone.

The points above, in my opinion will help in keeping the traffic from intercepting the comparsas by allowing them to commute on the back street. It will also keep pedestrians that don't want to participate away from the carnaval zone. This will allow the Carnaval participants and Tourists (most of them repeat customers) to enjoy the event. The zone should remain where it all started many years ago.

I would be happy to discuss this further if you wish, thank you for your time and do wish you a safe and happy carnaval. Que Viva El Carnaval!

Sincerely,
Einer Gomez


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Carnaval 2013 is starting on Saturday February 9th with Sabado de Bando (Masquerade & Block Party). Sunday - comparsas, dance performers & painting. Monday - Comparsas only. No painting in respect of arrival of Our Lady of Fatima on the island. Tuesday is Martes de Pintadera (beach party 4pm - 10pm) plus comparsas, arts and more. Wednesday, February 13th will be the burning of Don Juan Carnaval.

RULES: Painting will take place in town, from the beach-side in front of Rubies' Hotel all the way down to the cemetery. There will be a lot more policing of activities, and participants are urged to follow the rules to make for a safe carnaval for everyone involved.

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It appears Coconut Leo even got a moment in the Spotlight.....Did anyone get a chance to hear which of his songs he sang? He can be quite the Crooner......


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This year's Carnaval promises to be the best one yet! With a fantastic opening ceremony on the night of February 9th, school groups and dance groups entertained the crowd at Central Park with colorful performances and presentations. The fun continues through Tuesday the 12th with comparsas, painting and more performances.

LOTSA PICS HERE:
http://mybeautifulbelize.com/carnaval-2013-kicks-off-in-san-pedro/

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San Pedro Carnaval 2013 Celebrations Kick Off


Even with some skepticism about how the new rules for Carnaval would affect the celebrations, everything went underway with a very good start and no major problems as the painting revelers hit the streets on Sunday, February 10, 2013. The painting started late in the afternoon and the restriction to playing Carnaval only on Barrier Reef Drive (Front Street) and the beach did not seem to dampen the spirits of those who love the age-old tradition of San Pedro Town. The San Pedro Town Council made some new rules to ensure the safety of those who participate in the celebrations and to reduce the amount of vandalism that takes place from the throwing of paint and eggs.

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the Ambergris Today


On Saturday, February 9th, the 2013 Carnaval kicked off in grand style with a fabulous line-up of entertainment onstage at the Central Park. Dubbed Noche de Enmascarados (Night of the Masked), the final performance featured scary ghoulish characters who terrified quite a few kiddies as they took their spooky walk down to the stage. After scaring the audience for a bit - what do you know?! They broke out into a dance - and not just any dance - the Gangnam Style dance. Too fun!

San Pedro Sun


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The painting aspect of Carnaval went to another level this year as a massive crowd of painting revelers took to front street Barrier Reef Drive and the beach area at Central Park. The celebration was heightened as the Town Council hosted resident DJ's to keep the celebration alive.

San Pedro Carnaval has proven to be one of the favorite traditional festivals in Belize with even many tourists coming to visit just for the fun of getting painted! How much fun did you have for Carnaval?

San Pedro Carnaval ends with a bang with fantastic street comparsas on Fat Tuesday. The San Pedro AIDS Commission brings Samba to Carnaval, while the Men's Comparsa make fun of John McAfee and Do�a Flora's Comparsa dance Panamanian Style!

Ambergris Today


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San Pedro, Ambergris Caye Carnaval 2013 - Keeping Tradition Alive

When San Pedro Town Mayor, Daniel Guerrero, hinted about the idea to make some changes to the way that Carnaval in San Pedro was celebrated, many residents raised their voices in protest. "How can the Mayor even think of changing the way we have been celebrating Carnaval over the past 80 years?" This was the consensus amongst the die-hard Carnaval revelers who have been embracing and keeping the tradition alive for generations. They could not even think of changes to the way they came out on the streets to paint each other or danced in the comparsas (street dancing groups); why did the Mayor want to restrict such long-standing traditions?

Click here to read the rest of the article and see LOTS more AWESOME photos in the Ambergris Today


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Don Juan Carnaval Gets Burned at Festival's End

It was the culmination of a great festival that was filled with music, dance, joy, TONS of energy and of course COLOR! But the traditional burning of Don Juan Carnaval at the end San Pedro's Carnaval 2013 was done with much less fanfare as it mourns the death of Don Juan and observed on Ash Wednesday, a big Catholic event on the island of Ambergris Caye. Paying respect to the religious aspect of Carnaval and Lenten Season, the San Pedro Town Council did not have loud music or a celebration at Central Park on Wednesday, February 13, but prepared a short skit depicting the marriage of Don Juan Carnaval's son and then his funeral. It was a comedic skit with humor surrounding current events in town and making fun of popular figures within the community.

Click here to read the rest of the article and see LOTS more AWESOME photos in the Ambergris Today


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