Party like a Dominican at Santo Domingo Carnival

Carnival is actually celebrated throughout the entire month of February, with festivities coming to a climax around Independence Day on February 27th. In Santo Domingo especially, Carnival is concentrated around Independence Day.

The night before Carnival in Santo Domingo officially starts, homeowners light up their houses and balconies in preparation, illuminating the entire town.

The next day, the National Carnival Parade brings thousands of Dominicans and tourists to the beautiful Avenue Malecón, a stone esplanade that follows the Rio Ozama river as it winds through the center of Santo Domingo.

The parade features competitions between the country’s best costume and dancing troops. On the river, look out for boats decorated with oranges and eggs, both filled with scented water.

Get lost in the madness of the event, watch eggs being thrown, whips being cracked, confetti clouding the sky and good vibes filling every street in the capital. Children run wild with painted faces while their parents drink and dance.

Watch out for the ‘limping devil’ - you might see a couple of parade participants dressed as him during the event. The ‘limping devil’, or diablo cojuelo, is a big part of carnival culture in the DR, with each city and province showing off their own version of him at the parade. Legend has it that this naughty character was so bad that he was pushed down to earth and hurt his leg on the way.

If you’re in Santo Domingo in late February, you’ll find yourself completely immersed in Carnival, with thousands of people from all over the world coming together in a feast of color, music and movement.

Written by Andrew Miles.

Published November 2020