The Carnival of Santiago de la Ribera will begin next Saturday 10th February with one of its main events, the gala election of the Carnival Queen, a title for which four Muses from the groups Makulele, Brasilia, Yembé and Akelarre are competing this year. The event will take place in the Carnival marquee, located in the gardens of the «Príncipe de Asturias» centre, after the opening speech which this year will be given by Elena Jiménez, a local resident who was Carnival Queen in 1992, representing the «La Dorada» troupe. The Councillor for Fiestas, Alba Sánchez, who presented the Carnival programme, announced «a night full of surprises with a tribute to Maluma».
On Sunday 11 February the Canine Carnival returns with prizes for the best costumes at 12 noon on the Barnuevo esplanade, while in the afternoon the children’s gala for the election of the queen will be held with the participation of the groups Olé Olá, Akelarre, Makulele, Yembé and Brasilia. The little ones will enjoy the Children’s Carnival on the afternoon of Tuesday 13 February with entertainment, snacks and games in the marquee. The Carnival of Santiago de la Ribera continues its commitment to inclusion with its Carnival of Associations, in which associations and institutions that work with people with disabilities are invited to enjoy the festival in the greatest comfort. The Chirigotas Contest will take place on the night of Thursday 15 February in the marquee.
The weekend will get off to a strong start on Friday night at 22:30h with the IV Drag Queen Contest, which will be presented by the Gran Imperio and Rosa Benito and will feature the performance of «Divas». The Pasabares, which continues to gain more and more followers every year, will be held on Saturday 17th, leaving from the marquee and touring a good part of the local bars with the music of a charanga (brass band), ending with an evening in the marquee. On Sunday the 18th, the carnival will end with the big parade in which some 30 local and foreign troupes will take part with the direct participation of around 1000 people. The parade will leave at 16:00h from the Cuatro Picos roundabout towards the centre of Santiago de la Ribera to return to the marquee and bring this edition of the carnival to an end, with the presentation of prizes to the best groups in the parade.
