The Carnival of Poble-sec changes format. The classic parade of groups and music through the streets will give way to a "static" party, which will transform the Plaça del Sortidor into the heart of the celebration on Friday, February 13 at 5 p.m. With this change of course, the organization seeks to preserve the essence of Carnival, but adapting it to the current reality of the neighborhood.
According to Gerard Calderón, director of the Centre Cívic el Sortidor, the decision responds to the need to guarantee the safety and comfort of participants. "Each year the number of visitors increases and the parade overflows. Last year we counted nearly 1,500 participants and we don't want to repeat that chaos," he points out. The new format will allow activities to be concentrated in a single space, facilitate crowd control, and offer a more pleasant experience, especially for families with children.
The party will kick off with the Carnival proclamation, which will give the official start to the afternoon of revelry. Immediately after, the square will be filled with music, entertainment, and a festive atmosphere for all ages. The traditional hot chocolate will also be there, inviting a sweet pause.
Despite the changes, Carnival maintains the essence of the celebration: the costume contest, open to all neighbors. With the slogan "Put on a costume and come!", the CC Sortidor invites everyone to let their imagination fly and participate in this proposal that, year after year, fills the square with color.
A party that doesn't end
Beyond the central celebration on Friday, Carnival extends throughout the week with two activities that emphasize sustainability.
The first proposal is the family workshop 'Upcycling of costumes', which will take place on Saturday, February 7 at 11 a.m. The activity is free, but prior registration is required. The workshop invites you to prepare for the Poble-sec Carnival through the recycling and reuse of costumes and clothing items. Through simple techniques, participants will learn to give a second life to existing materials. The idea is to foster a more conscious look towards consumption.
The second activity will arrive on Thursday, February 12, Fat Thursday, with the workshop 'Leftover omelets' which will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Also free and with prior registration, this workshop is organized communally with various entities and projects in the neighborhood. Accompanied by Mariel Brahim, participants will prepare omelets and desserts with food recovered from Poble-sec shops by the entity 'Las Espigadoras'. The day will culminate with a tasting of the cooked food.
With this set of proposals, the Sortidor Civic Center opts for a more orderly Carnival without renouncing the party, the imagination, and the popular character that defines this celebration
