Carnival

Two Weeks of Carnival. The first week of Carnaval is a complete week of free cultural programs, one each evening. These include theater, modern dance, folklorico, mariachi, vocal, and a classical guitar concert. All are held in the Civic Auditorium and Casa de la Cultura (Cultural Center). Burning of the Bad Humor. Carnaval is a grand party -- no room for bad humor. So, on the first day of this final week, bad humor is destroyed symbolically by burning the figure of "Bad Humor".

Once everyone is in good humor, Rey Feo (Ugly King) is crowned. Each night of this last Carnaval week ends with a dance -- each dance lasts well into the following morning. Four Days of Parades. Parades are held the last four days of Carnaval -- basically, the same parade is repeated each day. Now mind you, it isn't the rose bowl parade, but the floats are wonderful and amateur-built. Many people are involved in the parade. It is a combination of a small town parade with trucks and cars and a large town parade with intricate floats. There are floats sponsored by various businesses such as the Tecate beer wagon pulled by white p... (similar to Budweiser).

Mesa, Arizona and El Segundo, California are both sister cities with Guaymas. There are lots of music The bands are good... the members would stop and perform every half block or so. There are other musical groups riding on trucks -- playing a wide variety of music; much like in a parade in the states. Whenever there isn't live music available, there is a truck with a sound system consisting of a generator. There is ample opportunity to buy confetti to scatter during the parade. The cans of foam used by partiers in the US are also available here. Cotton candy comes in pink, purple, and white.