2025 Carnival in Mazatlán

Carnival is the biggest annual event of the year in Mazatlán!

It is more like a festival and consists of many events including huge parades, large coronations, large concerts, fireworks, and street parties!

Hundreds of thousands of people come out to watch the events!

'Carnival' is the English name for it.  In Mazatlán, it is spelled the Spanish/Portugese way: 'Carnaval'.  We will use the english spelling on this page.

Carnival is a christian tradition which celebrates the short period before Lent begins.

Carnival runs from a Thursday to Tuesday(Mardi Gras Day or Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday).  This Tuesday is significant in the Catholic religion because it is the last day of feasting before Lent begins on the Wednesday(Ash Wednesday).

Lent is a period of 40 days(not counting Sundays) of fasting prior to Easter.  The tradition now is for Lent is to choose to give up something during this period or volunteer rather than actually fasting.

The Mazatlán Carnival is basically the same as Mardi Gras, but the Mazatlán version of it, i.e. think very artistic and lots of Pacifico beer and Partying!

The first Carnival in Mazatlán was in 1898 and it has been an annual event since, except for a few years for various reasons such as the bubonic plague, smallpox epidemic and Covid.

Carnival occurs over 6 days and includes many events.  There are 2 big parades down the Malecon, big coronation shows at the Teodoro Mariscal Baseball Stadium, a huge fireworks show and big multi-day street party at Olas Altas.

The Carnival in Mazatlán is reported to be the 3rd largest in the world after Rio De Janeiro and New Orleans!

The 2025 Carnival in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico runs from February 27 to March 4, 2025.

The theme of the 2025 Carnival in Mazatlán is: The Pearl (La Perla).

2025 is the 127th anniversary of the first Carnival in Mazatlán in 1898!

Below is a list of the Carnival Events that normally take place annually.

• First Manifestation (pre-Carnival event) -free event
• First Computation (pre-Carnival event) -free event
• Stickers (Pega de Calcas) (pre-Carnival event) -free event
• Manifestation Mazatlán (pre-Carnival event) -free event
• Final Computation (pre-Carnival event) -free event
• Carnival Queen Election (pre-Carnival event) -free event
• Forever Antonio López Saenz(Bienal López Saenz) (pre-Carnival event)(not yet announced for 2025) -free event
• Evening of the Arts (pre-Carnival event) -paid event
• Carnival Fair (not yet announced for 2025)
• Food Festival (not yet announced for 2025)
• Masquerade Ball (not yet announced for 2025) -paid event
• Olas Altas Street Party -entry fee to Olas Altas
• King of Joy Coronation -paid event
• Floral Games Queen Coronation -paid event
• Carnival Queen Coronation -paid event
• Bad Mood Riddance -free event
• Naval Combat Fireworks -free event
• Inaugural (Sunday) Carnival Parade -free event
• Children' s Queen Coronation -paid event
• Children's Fantasy Ball -paid event???
• Parade of Lights Over the Sea (not yet announced for 2025)- free event
• Monday Spectacular Show - entry fee to Olas Altas
• Second (Tuesday) Carnival Parade -free event

The 2025 Mazatlán Carnaval Event Ticket Prices for the paid events are:

• Election of the Queens: ???
• Evening of the Arts: MX$550 - $800
• King of Joy Coronation: MX$400 - $2650 plus service charges
• Floral Games Queen Coronation: MX$500 to $3500 plus service charges
• Carnival Queen Coronation: MX$500 to $3900 plus service charges
• Children's Queen Coronation: MX$600 to $4500 plus service charges
• Olas Altas Street Party: MX$70 entry to street party area

Tickets for the Teodoro Mariscal Baseball Stadium shows can be purchased online at: TicketStar.com.mx OR at Cultura Mazatlán Office (9am-5pm) OR City Hall(9am-5pm) OR TVP(9am-5pm) or Gran Plaza(11am-7pm).

Tickets for the Angela Peralta Theatre shows can be purchased at: Angela Peralta Theatre: 9am-2pm and 4pm-7pm, Saturdays: 9am-1pm.  Note that these theatre events sell out quickly.

Tickets for the Olas Altas Street Party can be purchased at one of the entrances to Olas Altas on the day you go.

Manifestation Mazatlán is a parade of over 100 cars that are decorated with the colors of the dance troupes and musical groups that will take part in Carnival.

This occurs about a month before Carnival starts and is intended to get people excited about Carnival.

This parade usually starts at 4pm and goes along Av. Leonismo Internacional, which is the new street in front of the lagoon of Central Park, and ends at the Plaza Republica, in front of Cathedral.

This is a free family-friendly event.

The 2025 Carnival Manifestation Mazatlán will take place on January 31, 2025 at 4pm.

A few weeks before Carnival starts, giant multi-coloured carnival figurines (called 'Monigotes', i.e. puppets) appear on the Malecon and in the Plaza Machado.

These figurines are based on the theme of the current year's carnival.

The 11 Monigotes for the 2025 Carnival will start to appearing on February 6, 2025.

The Evening of the Arts is a cultural performance that usually features ballet, music, and singing with a orchestra at the Angela Peralta Theatre

This event shows off the fantastic culture of Mazatlan!

This event normally occurs the week before Carnival.

This is a paid family-friendly event.

For the 2025 Carnival, the Evening of the Arts will take place on February 22, 2025 at 8pm.

There is usually a Carnival Fair which takes place at the same time as Carnival with kids rides and food stalls, etc.

The Carnival Fair is a family friendly event.  Not sure if there is an entrance fee or not, but the rides and food cost money.

The Carnival Fair for 2025 has not yet been announced.

The Olas Altas Carnival Street Party is a multi-night street party that takes place at Olas Altas.

There are many stages with live bands playing.  There is a lot of Pacifico beer being sold and drunk!  So, basically, it is a big street party!

In 2023 there were 22 different musical groups and DJs on 11 stages running from the Sinaloa Shield on Olas Altas to Avenida Zaragoza along Paseo Claussen.  Roads in this area will be closed down from 4pm.

For 2025, the street party will take place from February 27?, 2025 to March 3?, 2025 from 6pm to 2am nightly.

There will be an CASH entrance fee of MX$70(tbc)( to enter the area.

The street party is a paid event that is open to everyone, but is recommended only for adults later in the evening as there is a lot of drinking happening.

The King of Joy Coronation is a large event where the King of Joy is crowned, followed by a fireworks display and large concert by a famous act.

This event will take place in Teodoro Mariscal Stadium.

This is a paid family-friendly event.

For the 2025 Carnival, the King of Joy Coronation will take place on February 27, 2025 at 8pm.

The Floral Games Queen Coronation is a large event where the Floral Games Queen is crowned, followed by a large concert by a famous act.

This event will take place in Teodoro Mariscal Stadium.

This is a paid family-friendly event.

For the 2025 Carnival, the Floral Games Queen Coronation will take place on February 28, 2025 at 8:30pm.

The Carnival Queen Coronation is the largest stadium event where the Carnival Queen is crowned, followed by a large concert by a famous act.

This event will take place in Teodoro Mariscal Stadium.

This is a paid family-friendly event.

For the 2025 Carnival, the Carnival Queen Coronation will take place on March 1, 2025 at 8:30pm.

The Children's Queen Coronation is a large stadium event where the Children's Queen is crowned, followed by a large concert by a famous act.

This event will take place in Teodoro Mariscal Stadium.

This is a paid family-friendly event.

For the 2025 Carnival, the Children's Queen Coronation will take place on March 3, 2025 at 6:30pm.

Bad Mood Riddance (Quema del Mal Humor) is an event where a giant puppet which is an effigy of a famous person is paraded through the streets, then loaded with fireworks and set affire in an effort to get rid of bad feelings.

This events starts at the intersection of Aquiles Serdán and Ignacio Zaragoza, from which the puppet is paraded to Mario Escobedo street, on its way to the malecon at Olas Altas where it is burned.

In 2025, the effigy to be burned has not yet been announced!

This event will take place in Olas Altas near the Deer (El Venadito) monument

Since this event takes place at Olas Altas there is an entrance fee to the area because it is within the Carnival Street Party zone.

The previous years puppet that were burned were:

The Naval Combat Fireworks (Combate Naval) is a huge choreographed fireworks display that takes place on the beach and water at Olas Altas.

This is one of the most popular annual events during Carnival in Mazatlán.

The historical implication of this event is that in 1864, the French naval ship Cordeliere tried to invade Mazatlán.  The residents of Mazatlán fought back and held off the attack.  This event is meant to commemorate this victory in battle!

This event will take place on the Saturday of Carnival at Olas Altas.

For 2024, they had 900kg of fireworks that were fired off!

This is a family-friendly event.

NOTE: Since this event takes place at Olas Altas there is an entrance fee to the area because it is within the Carnival Street Party zone.

In 2020, there were were lots of syncronized drones which added a new element to the show by spelling out words and showing various shapes.  However, we haven't seen the drones since.

For the 2025 Carnival, Naval Combat Fireworks will take place on March 1, 2025 at 11pm.

The Parade of Lights over the Sea is a parade of illuminated boats that goes from the Marina to the Malecon.

The boats are illuminated with LED lights of many colors!

This event was new in 2023!  Not really sure if it took place in 2024 or not.  It has not yet been confirmed for 2025.

You can watch the boats from the beach anywhere south of the Marina to the Golden Zone and from anywhere along the Malecon.

This is a free family-friendly event.

The Inaugural Parade (Primer Desfile de Carnival) is the first of the two big parades with huge floats along the Malecon.  This parade takes place on the Sunday of Carnival.

This parade normally starts at 5pm and goes along the Avenida Del Mar from the Fishermen's Monument to Punto Valentino.  The parade usually goes along the southside lane of the Malecon.  The northbound lane is usually closed for spectators.

The Malecon fills with about half a million people to watch the parade go by.  In 2020 there were 33 floats and 28 other groups.

For days before, people set up chairs to rent and try to reserve the best spots for viewing the parade.  The city has been trying to crack down on this, but with limited success! &bnsp;The city seems to be allowing people that show up with a few chairs and umbrellas to set up for a family, but not those that show up with hundreds of chairs.

This is a free family-friendly event.  However, some people pay to use chairs, or sit in restaurants or oven pay for hotel rooms overlooking the parade.

For the 2025 Carnival, the Inaugural (Sunday) Carnival Parade will take place on March 2, 2025 at 5:30pm.

The Second Carnival Parade (Segundo Desfile de Carnival) is the second of the two big parades with huge floats along the Malecon.  This parade takes place on the Tuesday of Carnival.

This parade usually goes along the Avenida Del Mar from Avenida de lo Deportes (the street that the Mazatlán Aquarium is on) to Olas Altas.  The parade usually goes along the southside lane of the Malecon.  The northbound lane is also closed for spectators.

Usually, hundreds of thousands of people come out to watch this parade!

This is a free family-friendly event.  However, some people pay to use chairs, or sit in restaurants or even pay for hotel rooms overlooking the parade.

For the 2025 Carnival, the Second (Tuesday) Carnival Parade will take place on March 4, 2025 at 4:30pm.

When is the 2025 Carnival in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico?

The dates for 2025 Carnival in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico are February 27, 2025 to March 4, 2025.

The dates(not all are confirmed yet) for the 2025 Carnival events are:

• Forever López Saenz, TBA, Angela Peralta Gallery
• Manifestation Mazatlán: January 31, 2025 4pm, Avenida Leonismo Internacional to Plaza Republica
• Final Compute: February 7, 2025: 6pm, Plazuela Republica
• Carnival Queen Election: February 8, 2025: 7pm, Angela Peralta Theatre
• Evening of the Arts: February 22, 2025 8pm, Angela Peralta Theatre - artists tba
• King of Joy Coronation: February 27, 2025 7pm, Teodoro Mariscal Stadium - artists: Jorge Medina and Jose Cuen, and Juntos
• Queen of the Floral Games Coronation: February 28, 2025, 8:30pm, Teodoro Mariscal Stadium - artist: Placido Domingo
• Carnival Queen Coronation: March 1, 2025, 6:30pm, Teodoro Mariscal Stadium - artist: Grupo Firme
• Bad Mood Riddance: March 1, 2025, 9pm - Olas Altas
• Naval Combat Fireworks: March 1, 2025, 11pm - Olas Altas
• Inaugural Carnival Parade: March 2, 2025, 5pm, Malecon
• Children's Fantasy Ball: March 3, 2025, 10am - Salon Spectacular on Avenida Camaron Sabalo near Hotel Quijote Inn
• Children's Queen Coronation: March 3, 2025, 6:30pm, Teodoro Mariscal Stadium - artist: Alejandro Sanz
• Great performance on the Monday of Carnival: 10pm, Stage next to Deer monument("El Venadito") at Olas Altas - artist: La Adictiva
• Second Carnival Parade: March 4, 2025 4:30pm - Malecon

When is the theme of the 2025 Carnival in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico?

The theme for the 2025 Carnival in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico is: The Pearl (La Perla).

• 2024: Baroque Eclipse (Eclipse Baroque): February 8 to February 13, 2024.
• 2023: Dejavu, Dreams of a Carnival (Dejavú, Sueños de un Carnaval): February 16 to 21, 2023.
• 2022: Lanao, the journey continues: February 24 to March 1, 2022
• 2021: Lanao, a journey through time: Cancelled due to Covid pandemic
• 2020: Somos America -Pasion, Alegria y Esperanza (We are America - Pasion, Joy, and Hope): February 20-25, 2020
• 2019: Equinoccio-El Renacer de Los Sentidos (Equinox-the rebirth of the senses): February 28, 2019 to March 5, 2019.
• 2018: Patasalada: El Circo de Los Talentos (The Circus of the Talented): February 8, 2018 to February 13, 2018
• 2017: Alebrijes and Dragons : February 23, 2017 to February 28, 2017
• 2016: Mazatlantida: La alegoria que emergio de las olas (The allegory that emerged from the waves) : February 4 to February 9, 2016
• 2015: Los sueños de Momo (The dreams of Momo) : February 12, 2015 to February 17, 2015
• 2014: Litoralia: La Piel del Mar (Litoral: The Skin of the Sea) : February 27 to March 4, 2014
• 2013: La Linterna Magica (Magic Lantern) : February 7 to 12, 2013
• 2012: La Fiesta de los Imperios (The party of the Imperials) : February 16 to 21, 2012
• 2011: El Retorno de las Musas (The Return of the Muses) : March 3, 2011 to March 8, 2011
• 2010: Con Fervor Patrio! (With Patriotic Fervor!) : February 11, 2010 to February 16, 2010
• 2009: Fantasa Universa (Universal Fantasy) : February 19, 2009 to February 24, 2009
• 1998: 100th Anniversary: El Primer Siglo (The First Century)

This website also has a complete guide to Mazatlán including lots of information on Attractions, Activities, Hotels, Restaurants, Shopping, Entertainment, Services, and things you will see Only in Mazatlán!