Colorful and Overwhelming Turnout During National Dominican Carnival 2019

Santo Domingo, March 4, 2019 – Thousands of national and international visitors enjoyed the National Dominican Carnival 2019, where dozens of floats presented their creativity and regional traditions in Santo Domingo’s beautiful seaside drive.

The parade began at 3:00 p.m. on George Washington Avenue, the capital city’s seaside drive. The King and Queen of the Parade, as is the tradition, were Dominican actors Nashla Bogaert and Frank Perozo. They opened the Parade on board the Ministry of Culture float.

In front of the float, the D.R. Navy musical band led the way by interpreting Carnival-oriented musical themes.

In the VIP area of the parade were Minister of Culture Architect Eduardo Selman, his wife Gloria Mejía, and important officials and invited guests, including Santo Domingo Mayor David Collado and members of the diplomatic and consular corps accredited in the D.R.

Among the diplomats that attended the event were U.S. Ambassador Robin S. Bernstein and her husband Richard Bernstein, as well as Chinese Ambassador Zhang Run and his wife Duan Niyan.

One of the most impressive floats was the one that honored Dominican singer Casandra Damirón. Ms. Damirón, one of the first popular women singers in the country – who became a national icon in the mid-1940s – was originally from the southwest province of Barahona.

The Parade was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications.

The country’s southwest region was amply represented by various cultural groups that presented some of the region’s most important Carnival traditions.

Peravia Province, also situated in the country’s southwest region – only one hour west of the capital city of Santo Domingo – was also richly represented by its regional Carnival tradition. The same with Azua Province, situated west of Peravia
Province.

Other regions of the Dominican Republic were also represented during the parade, especially representatives from the northeast and northern regions.

Santiago, the country’s second largest city, was represented by various floats, including floats allusive to the region’s world-renowned tobacco industry.

The members of the jury that eventually chose the best floats were Miguel Ángel Pérez, Edwin Ortiz, Jorge Wynnegi, Manuel Guillén, Patricia Ascuasiati, Denny García, Josué Gómez, Luisa Dicló, Héctor Luis Martínez and José Brea.

The floats participated in various categories: Fantasy, Traditional, Popular Creativity, Historic Themes, Alí Babá and Individual creations.

The winners of the first three awards were in the Fantasy, Traditional and Popular Creativity categories, with cash awards that went from one thousand dollars for first place winners; six hundred dollars, for second prize winners, and four hundred dollars for each third place winner.

In the Individual Category, members of the first place award received six hundred dollars; the second place members received six hundred dollars, and the third place members received two hundred dollars.