220,000 Enjoy Carnaval 2015 Parade

by Maureen Dietrich
16 Feb 15
mazmessenger.com

 

Enthusiastic crowds delayed the start of the parade.

According to statistics published by the municipality and the Sinaloa Secretary of Tourism office, approximately 222,000 people lined the Malecón on last night to enjoy the first of Carnaval 2015 parades. The second will take place tomorrow, Tuesday.

The Queen of Carnaval waves as the sun sets behind the Tres Islas.

Media reported that beginning in the early hours of Sunday morning, although they knew it was prohibited, families began staking out their viewing spots along the boardwalk using chairs, yellow tape, shoes, water bottles and even baby carriages. A few determined families set up tents to spend the night guarding their premier locations. By 8am Sunday morning, the Malecón was beginning to fill up in anticipation of the evening parade.

 

 

And on Sunday morning, Official Mayor Salvador Reynosa Garzón was out early walking the Malecón with municipal employees looking for vendors renting chairs and tables for the parade. A common practice in years past, this year it was prohibited and instead the municipality installed free viewing stands for 14,000 people.

 

 

 

Within minutes, employees and municipal police detected 10 areas where vendors were attempting to rent chairs and confiscated 1,407 chairs which would have netted between 70 and 200 pesos each.

 

As the parade was about to begin last night, enthusiastic dancing revellers filled the street in front of the floats delaying the departure of the parade by 20 minutes while organizers attempted to clear the way for the floats to enter the Malecón.

A total of 31 floats took part in the parade this year showcasing the Carnaval Queens and Kings, artists and television personalities, ambassadors from Mexican cities and invited countries. Among the invited guests were World Boxing Champion Pedro Guevara and Televisa Deportes host Vanessa Huppenkothen.

Speaking to reporters from an hotel viewing sala where the Mayor, Sinaloa Governor and other invitees were watching the parade, Sinaloa Secretary of Tourism Francisco Córdova Celaya said they conservatively estimate Carnaval 2015 will generate 500 million pesos for the municipality.

He enthused that this year’s Carnaval was “marvellous” and without incident, adding all the events were sold out including the coronation of the Queen of Carnaval where they had to shut the doors to the baseball stadium venue and later close off Centro Historico, the Plazuela Machado and Olas Altas due to the crowds. But, he added, the people understood.

(from Noroeste)