Global InformationCarnaval de Vejigantes information
| Carnaval de Vejigantes | |
|---|---|
 Typical poster used to announce the carnival | |
| Official name | Carnaval de Vejigantes de La Playa de Ponce |
| Also called | Carnaval de La Playa, Carnaval de Vejigantes |
| Type | Local, cultural |
| Celebrations | Parade, dancing, food, parties |
| Date | Weeks leading to Ash Wednesday |
| 2023 date | 3-5 Feb[1] |
| 2024 date | 2-4 February[2] |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | 1991[3] |
| Related to | Lent |
The Carnaval de Vejigantes, officially Carnaval de Vejigantes de La Playa de Ponce,[10] is an annual celebration held at Barrio Playa in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The celebration, which commonly lasts three to five days,[11] generally takes place in late January or early February.[12] It started in 1991.[13] It takes place at Parque Lucy Grillasca on PR-585 in Barrio Playa.[14] The parade, one of the highlights of the carnival, usually takes off from Cancha Salvador Dijols on Avenida Hostos (PR-123) and ends at Parque Lucy Grillasca (PR-585).[15] Attendance is estimated at over 15,000 people.[16] It is attended by people from all over Puerto Rico, and some attendees are from as far as the United States.[17] It is organized and operated by a community, civic, NGO group, not by any government or government agency.[18]
This carnival is different from many other carnivals in that attendees are not mere spectators, but people who are encouraged to take part in the carnival. The public is actually encouraged to come with their panderos, vejigante masks, güiros and maracas and participate ad hoc.[19] The carnival has been called the "antesala" (gateway) to lent and to the Ponce Carnival: "This carnaval is not a fiesta patronal nor a festival. It's a town party and its essence lies in a public that participates."[20] It aims to strengthen family bonds, create long-lasting memories, share together as a community, and keep local traditions alive.[21]
The Carnival brings together some 1,200 artists, including some 10 music bands, groups of vejigantes with over 40 people each, over 100 masked vejigantes, choreographed dancers, plus the thousands of locals who join in. This carnival has been described as a "townspeople feast of controlled chaos."[22] Besides music, dance and food, the carnivals also features amusement rides, artisans, cheerleaders, jugglers, and arts and crafts, among other attractions.[23] There are also workshops for children on how to make vejigante masks.[24][25]
- ^ Carnaval De Vejigantes En Ponce 2023. MiAgendaPR.com Accessed 8 February 2023. Archived.
- ^ Folclor y tradición en el Carnaval de la Playa de Ponce. Yenilis Mattei Ruiz. Esnoticiapr.com Ponce, Puerto Rico: Periódico Es Noticia. 26 January to 8 February 2024. Year 8. Issue 214. Accessed 25 February 2022. p.10. Archived.
- ^ 33. Carnaval de la Playa de Ponce. Gilberto Limardo Rodríguez. Isla Caribe Podcast #33. Time = 4:00 of 23:23. Accessed 16 January 2020.
- ^ Inicia el conteo regresivo para el Carnaval de Vejigantes: Este festejo palpita gracias al empeño de maestros artesanos de la careta carnavalesca de cartón piedra, al retumbe de comparsas de bomba y plena, a creadoras de comidas con aroma a salitre y un pueblo alegre que ensalza, desde sus costumbres hasta su humilde origen. Archived 16 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine Waldo Covas and Omar Alfonso. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 23 January 2019. Accessed 16 January 2020.
- ^ Expondrán arte en la Plaza Juan Ponce de León de la Ciudad Señorial. Voces del Sur. 31 July 2019. Accessed 21 January 2020.
- ^ Con nueva fecha el Carnaval de Vejigantes de la Playa de Ponce. Sara Marrero Caban. 14 January 2020. Accessed 24 February 2020.
- ^ Cancelan edición 2020 del Carnaval de Vejigantes de la Playa de Ponce. Voces de Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 4 April 2020. Accessed 16 April 2020.
- ^ Cancelan edición 2020 del Carnaval de Vejigantes de la Playa de Ponce. Voces de Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 4 April 2020. Accessed 16 April 2020.
- ^ Carnaval de Vejigantes 2022: Ven a celebrar el tradicional Carnaval de la Playa de Ponce. CulturalPR.com 30 June 2022. Accessed 10 July 2022.
- ^ Con ritmo caribeño arranca el Carnaval de Vejigantes: El multitudinario festejo inicia oficialmente este jueves, 31 de enero. La Perla del Sur. 30 January 2019. Accessed 16 January 2020.
- ^ Carnaval de Vejigantes de la Playa de Ponce: 25 enero, 2019 @ 5:00 pm - 3 febrero, 2019 @ 10:00 pm Gratuito. Accessed 16 January 2020.
- ^ 33. Carnaval de la Playa de Ponce. Gilberto Limardo Rodríguez. Isla Caribe Podcast #33. Time = 4:00 of 23:23. Accessed 16 January 2020.
- ^ A Celebrar el Carnaval de Vejigantes de la Playa de Ponce. El Laurel Sureño. 30 de diciembre de 2016 al 12 de enero de 2017. p. 12. Accessed 1 January 2020.
- ^ Carnaval de Vejigantes de la Playa de Ponce: 25 enero, 2019 @ 5:00 pm - 3 febrero, 2019 @ 10:00 pm Gratuito. Voces del Sur. Accessed 16 January 2020.
- ^ A Celebrar el Carnaval de Vejigantes de la Playa de Ponce. El Laurel Sureño. 30 de diciembre de 2016 al 12 de enero de 2017. p. 12. Accessed 1 January 2020.
- ^ Inicia el conteo regresivo para el Carnaval de Vejigantes: Este festejo palpita gracias al empeño de maestros artesanos de la careta carnavalesca de cartón piedra, al retumbe de comparsas de bomba y plena, a creadoras de comidas con aroma a salitre y un pueblo alegre que ensalza, desde sus costumbres hasta su humilde origen. Archived 16 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine Waldo Covas and Omar Alfonso. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 23 January 2019. Accessed 16 January 2020.
- ^ Las calles de La Playa se vestirán de fiesta: El carnaval del barrio de Ponce será hasta el domingo, 3 de febrero. Primera Hora. 24 January 2019. Accessed 16 January 2020.
- ^ Vibrante el Carnaval de Vejigantes. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 2 February 2010. Accessed 16 January 2020.
- ^ Todos a la calle para el Carnaval de La Playa. Omar Alfonso. La Perla del Sur. 1 February 2017. Accessed 16 January 2020.
- ^ Inicia el conteo regresivo para el Carnaval de Vejigantes: Este festejo palpita gracias al empeño de maestros artesanos de la careta carnavalesca de cartón piedra, al retumbe de comparsas de bomba y plena, a creadoras de comidas con aroma a salitre y un pueblo alegre que ensalza, desde sus costumbres hasta su humilde origen. Waldo Covas and Omar Alfonso. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 23 January 2019. Accessed 16 January 2020.
- ^ Vibrante el Carnaval de Vejigantes. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 2 February 2010. Accessed 16 January 2020.
- ^ Inicia el conteo regresivo para el Carnaval de Vejigantes: Este festejo palpita gracias al empeño de maestros artesanos de la careta carnavalesca de cartón piedra, al retumbe de comparsas de bomba y plena, a creadoras de comidas con aroma a salitre y un pueblo alegre que ensalza, desde sus costumbres hasta su humilde origen. Archived 16 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine Waldo Covas and Omar Alfonso. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 23 January 2019. Accessed 16 January 2020.
- ^ CARNAVAL DE VEJIGANTES 2018: Ponce, Puerto Rico. Descubra Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico Hoteles y Paradores. 2010. Accessed 16 January 2020.
- ^ Se viste de color el Ponce Hilton: Presentan el Carnaval de Vejigantes. Cynthia I. Torres. El Nuevo Dia. 6 August 2015. Accessed 16 January 2020.
- ^ Playeros pintan la ruta hacia el carnaval. Sandra Torres Guzmán. La Perla del Sur. 20 January 2016. Accessed 16 January 2020.
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