February is right around the corner and with it comes the beautiful colors and musical fun of El Gran Carnaval de San Pedro. This year the festivities are being held under the theme "La vida es un Carnaval - Life is a Carnival." The San Pedro Town Council is working with various stakeholders and has many activities planned to spread through February 7th to the 18th.

The activities kick off on Saturday February 7th with La Reina del Carnaval Pageant (the selection of a Carnival Queen). This will take place at the San Pedro High School starting at 7:30PM. Five ladies are competing to succeed reigning Queen Mrs. Leonor Rosado.

The San Pedro Town Council has scheduled the annual Carnival Fiesta Block Party for Friday, February 13th. The event starts at 8PM on Barrier Reef Drive and Central Park, and the best Carnaval inspired drinks, food and booth will be judged. There will be dances and live musical entertainment.

On the 14th of February, on Valentine's Night, for the second consecutive year, the San Pedro House of Culture has organized the Carnival Masquerade Ball. The event will take place at Holiday Hotel/Caprice starting at 9PM under the theme "Be Masked, Be Loved, Be Mine!" Be sure to get your mask at Holiday Hotel while they last! There will be DJ Music, free shots and lots to eat and drink. Entrance is free.

From the 15 to the 17th of February, there will be the traditional comparsas and painting in the downtown area of San Pedro. Comparsas (dances) will be done on Angel Coral Street, Pescador Drive and Barrier Reef Drive. Besides being closed to bicycles and motorize vehicles, no parking will be allowed on Pescador and Barrier Reef Drive on these days from 4PM to 10PM.

Rules for Painting

  • Recommended that only children paint on the Sunday
  • No painting of comparsa participants, properties, signs, vehicles and people in uniform or coming from work.
  • No oil paint or spray paint
  • No bottle squeezers will be allowed
  • No throwing of eggs or use of rotten eggs
  • Painters are asked to respect tourists, unless they want to participate
  • Painting Zone - Beach from Ruby's Hotel to the Cemetery area and Barrier Reef Drive
  • Non-painters are recommended to avoid painting zone.

On Monday, February 15th and Tuesday, February 16th, there will be live music by Sweet Pain Band from Dangriga courtesy of DJ Debbie. According to the San Pedro Town Council, the police will be enforcing the rules and the enforcement officers will be placed in strategic areas along the painting zone and comparsa route.

The events culminate on the night of Ash Wednesday, on February 18th, with the traditional burning of Juan Carnaval. It starts immediately after mass at 8PM at the Central Park and promises to be lots of fun, as there will be the annual reading of the Juan Carnaval Will.

The San Pedro Town Council invites everyone to join in the fun and wishes all a happy and safe Carnival 2015.