A Brief History and a Few Fun Facts About Mazatlan Carnaval Celebrations
When you think of Carnival celebrations, your mind probably pictures Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, or New Orleans Mardi Gras in the United States. Or if you are well traveled, you may have had the opportunity to visit one of the oldest and most elaborate Carnevale in Venice. But did you know the Carnival in Mazatlan, Mexico is also considered among the top ten Carnival celebrations in the world?
Mazatlan Carnival Malecon 2018
Depending when lent falls, the Carnival in Mazatlan takes place every year between February and March. If you are considering visiting Mazatlan, we highly suggest you plan your vacation with the biggest party of the year. You will not regret it! In 2025, Mazatlan Carnaval celebrations run from February 27th to March 4th. If you plan ahead, you can be part of one of all the action and experience Carnaval in Mexico for yourself!
The History of Mazatlan Carnaval
Mazatlan Carnaval 1910
The very first official Mardi Gras version Carnaval in Mazatlan was over 125 years ago in 1898. There were celebrations dating back up to 50 years before that, but be glad it evolved. The original tradition included women throwing flour and eggshells full of glitter, and the men throwing ashes and dyes back at the women (um….a slight twist on Ash Wednesday?). Throw in mock battles (Lucha Libre?) between dock workers and market workers that shouted insults and threw stones at each other, the Mazatlan Carnaval was pretty wild at the beginning.
Flyer for 1989 Carnival in Mazatlan
In 1898 civil officials decided to make the whole celebration a bit more civil I guess you can say. Supposedly influenced by international advisors, Mazatlan Carnaval evolved into a bit more of “fancy” celebration exchanging flour for glitter, and organized parades. Thus, the base for today’s carnival celebrations in Mazatlan.
Carnival Float in Mazatlan circa 1910
A Century of Traditions in Mazatlan for Carnival
Although evolving, many elements of the Mazatlan Carnival are integral year after year. There were a few years that Carnaval was suspended due to things like lack of finances, the revolution, small pox, the global pandemic, and even the bubonic plague in 1903! But just about every year since the beginning of the 20th century, there is a celebrated king and queen of Carnival in Mazatlan. You can actually find the list of Queens of Mazatlan Carnaval throughout the century on MazatlanToday.net.
Mazatlan Carnival Queens 2018 & 2019
But the main thing that sets the Mazatlan Carnaval apart from the rest of the word is….you guessed it….Banda of course!! Already incorporated into everyday life in Sinaloa, Carnival week is is the time for Banda celebrations from dusk til dawn. Grab a six pack from the Six mini mart, fill the bag with ice, and come for a stroll along the parade routes or stop and enjoy the bands playing at one of the plazas or stages along the parade routes ad you will fit in like a local.
Banda is the Heart of Mazatlan
Oh, one other important and unique part of the Mazatlan Carnaval is the Monigotes. These are super fun and creative paper mâché statues that dot the parade route and signify the beginning of the upcoming Carinal season. Aside from Valentino and the Mazatlan sign, these are the most photographed icons of Mazatlan at this time of year.
Monigotes – Statue of Greek Warrior – Photo By Diogenes el Filosofo
Mazatlan Carnaval Themes
1943 El Carnaval de Victoria (The Carnival of Victory): Dating back to WWII, this was actually the godfather of all the Carnaval themes in Mazatlan. In 1943, after having its ships sunk by German submarines and siding with the allies, Mazatlan decided to create a theme for Carnaval with a message of hope. The idea of themes slowly stuck, and withing 20 years, now an annual theme is embraced to unify the event.
Mazatlan Carnival Theme 2025 – La Perla
Nearly every year there is a new theme named, but there are definitely recurring themes that are revisited year after year. Elements of the sea, Mexican culture and traditions, and even Hollywood have been reoccurring themes celebrated in different ……every year. 2024 was the year of the Total Solar Eclipse in Mazatlan. This amazingly anticipated event became the theme of that year’s Carnaval celebration in Mazatlan.
Mazatlan Carnival Float 2024 – Theme Baroque Eclipse
Where to go to Experience Mazatlan Carnaval for Yourself
Mazatlan has one of the most amazing Malecon’s in all of Mexico, so needless to say the parade routes stretch for a long distance allowing plenty of space for everyone to enjoy. In fact, they stretch all the way from the beginning of the Golden Zone, down the Malecon, past Olas Altas, into the Centro Historico, and even east into the neighborhoods. This year they are beginning at the Monumento al Pescador and culminating at Punto Valentino.
Aerial View Of Mazatlan Carnaval Malecon
Plaza Machado, the heart of the historic district, offers its own events such as “Battle of the Bandas” as I call it. You cannot go to Mazatlan and not be saturated with Banda music. But during Carnaval, you can find some pretty special artists. There are special concerts and events at the Angela Peralta Theater as well. And even the Mazatlan Venados baseball team stadium, Estadio Teodoro Mariscal, hosts some spectacular events and musical guests. The best part is they bring in amazing guests, but they offer most all of the concerts at affordable prices for everyone to attend. In 2025, Alejandro Sanz is playing for just 600 MXN (about 30 USD).
Check out the official website for the Mazatlan Carnaval here for a full list of events.
Naval Combat Celebrations – Photo by Monica Guadalupe Delgado Del Real
A Few Fun Facts About Carnival in Mazatlan
That sums up the basics, but there are some quirky facts that make Mazatlan Carnaval a little extra fun.
The First King of Carnival was Dubbed Rey Feo (Ugly King). Needless to say, that does not have the best marketing ring, so after only a couple of years they changed that to the Rey de la Alegria (King of Joy). Good call.
First King of Mazatlan Carnaval 1898 – Gerardo de la Vega – Not so Ugly!
The Mazatlan Carnival in 1903 was Canceled Due to an Outbreak of the Bubonic Plague (Black Death). Nope, not medieval times, but in 1902 & 1903, cases of Bubonic Plague were “plaguing” Mazatlan. Smartly, they decided to cancel the festivities that year. Ok not such a fun fact, but a little shocking at least. There were future cancellations for Smallpox in 1944 and Coronavirus in 2021 as well, but we can all agree that was probably for the best too.
The First Queen of Carnival in Mazatlan was not Even Mexican! Nope, the first queen of Carnaval in Mazatlan was Wilfreda Farmer, born in Garland Maine 1882. But hey, lets be kind to immigrants and dreamers. Her family came to Mazatlan in 1885 and she lived in Maz for over 20 years. So she was “pata salada”.
First Queen of Mazatlan Carnaval – Winifred Farmer
We barely began to dig into the history and charm of Carnival in Mazatlan, but we cannot recommend it enough. Mazatlan is an underestimated destination in Mexico at times, but the “Pearl of the Pacific” is definitely an undiscovered gem. We invite you to come visit, and when you are there, don’t forget to check out our list of top things to do in Mazatlan as well….if you can fit it in between all the parties of course.
Other Notable Carnival Celebrations in Mexico
Veracruz Carnival
Carnival in Veracruz, Mexico
Veracruz is actually one of the most important Canaval celebrations in Mexico. It is one of the largest celebrations in the Americas as well dating back as far as 1866. Similar to Mazatlán, Veracruz features parades along the Malecon, Banda music, and Tambora which is the regional
Cozumel Carnival
Carnival in Cozumel, Mexico
It is hard to compete with the rest of the Caribbean celebrations, but Cozumel does a pretty amazing job holding its own celebrations every year too! Follow their Facebook page for information on the events. And if you are so lucky to visit Cozumel at this time of year, be sure to contact us for your airport transfers and other fun things to do in Cozumel.
Mexico Carnaval Celebrations
Have you been to Carnival in Mexico? If so, please share your experience in the comments below. Its not Rio, but we really think the celebrations in Mexico are top notch and should be added to everyone’s bucket list.