Wear a mask!
The 2012 Puerto Vallarta Carnaval Parade (History):
For one spring evening Puerto Vallarta came alive like at no other time of the year for the largest and most exciting parade in this tropical seaside town.
The 4th annual Puerto Vallarta Mardi Gras parade wound its way through Puerto Vallarta’s beautiful and colorful Malecon and Zona Romantica. There were more than 60 entries with 10s of thousands of people watching.
2012 was the fourth year of the Puerto Vallarta Mardi Gras Carnaval Parade. Originally it was created by Peter Deep of Club Manana and was sponsored by him for the first three years.
In 2012 it was organized by a small, independent committee of volunteers and was sponsored by the City of Puerto Vallarta and the Mayor, Salvador González Reséndiz. Because we had the backing of the City Government, we were able to take the parade beyond its previous focus of being primarily a “gay” parade. For the first 3 years of its existance, the parade had less than a handful of “straight” businesses supporting it. With City sponsorship we were able to enlarge this number considerably, even including a mariachi band, dancing horses, the bomberos (firefighters) and many “straight” bars, restaurants and real estate companies that had previously refused participation. Our goal was to make this Mardi Gras parade similar to those in other major cities around the world, with a role for everyone. The walls did not come down but the doors opened a bit.
The 2012 Parade was held Saturday, February 18, from 9 pm until well after midnight, beginning at the top of the new Malecon and continuing down through the Zona Romantica past the popular Olas Altas street. Everyone, all businesses, individuals and organizations were invited to participate.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
IF YOU LIKED THIS YEAR’S PARADE, SORRY, WE DID NOT MEAN TO OFFEND, ONLY TO ENTERTAIN…
You need to read the latest posts on here. It was only one person in the government that was blocking us. He has now been circumvented but, unfortunately, too late for a parade this year.
Bad decision to cancel the parade for the reasons mentionned. I wanted to retire here but if I have to deal with a homophobic city council, I’ll retire elsewhere.
We have lived for 7 years here, we are mexican and straight couple
Vallarta was a mix of everything is what we enjoy. We came from places were the gay bar or just gay people is not welcome, but here we met so many nice gay people, that is just people without a tag. The parade was one of our favorite activities and we feel bad about the decision that the city hall took. We like to see this Parade again, and the “new parade with family values” as well. But the parade at Zona Romantica should occur as before, it is good for the tourism.
I chose to live in Mexico after I had retired and what a great decision. I did see the parade in 2012 and it was a great event. I am planning on being downtown this year for the event. There were thousands of people sitting and lining the malacon no one seemed visibly upset by anything that was on display.all I can say is Viva la Mexico, the only way to attract tourists to this beautiful town is to stay as diverse and friendly to all people. Please keep the public informed as to the date of this fun filled event. God bless Mexico and puerto Vallerta.
I agree with k baryluk. I spend my winters in Puerto Vallarta and am shocked to find out that the previous organizers were fired because the content was perceived as being too “sexual”. I remember no such thing and I attended the parade with my partner and two straight friends of ours that are in their 70′s who live in Puerto Vallarta 6 months a year and we all had a great time. The reason I spend my tourist dollars in Puerto Vallarta is because of what I perceived to be a tolerant culture but if this is the way the city perceives things then maybe I need to rethink where I spend my tourist dollars. It is nothing short of rediculous and I sincerely hope that those in a position of power within the city rethink their position. Seems more like homophobia to me than anything else and given that the Puerto Vallarta economy is largely driven by the tourist dollars of gay vacationers they should be careful unless of course they want all of those tourist dollars rediverted elsewhere.
Sadly, I didn’t get to see the event when it was its spontaneous, grassroots, wilder self. If the City Fathers can whip up a grander, if stuffier, version, I would still enjoy it, I think. That’s in large part because it will be held in one of the most beautiful towns, with the most friendly people, I’ve ever heard about.
I am sorry, but we are officially fired from doing the parade. It would be best if you contacted the Vallarta tourism board.
I come to Puerto Vallarta with my tourist dollars and spend freely because of PV’s culture-friendly environment. Unless this new change of low tolerance by the city reverses and allows the people to continue to freely express themselves, I shall find other places to visit and spend my money at.
k. baryluk