GUALEGUAYCHÚ CARNIVAL

The carnival is one of the most popular events for tourists. The “corsódromo” of Gualeguaychú was inaugurated in 1997. The carnival is considered the biggest one in Argentina.

Comparsas (Groups)

The comparsas are livened up by music, beautiful women and wonderful costumes, making an unforgettable spectacle. They have from 230 to 280 members, four floats maximum and four fancy costumes.

Every year, the Saturdays of January and February, the “Corsódromo” has more than 40.000 people. The show is composed by comparsas which belong to different clubs and sportive centers of the city; the main ones are: Marí-Marí belongs to “Juventud Unida” social and sportive club, Kamarra (belongs to Centro Sirio Libanés and Ara-Yeví of club Tiro Federal.

The carnival show begins with a group called “comision de frente”, composed by figures and impressive costumes which are according to the chosen thematic. After that, the opening float passes, this has a representation and is very common to see the group’s name on the front part.

You can also see the “pareja de embajadores”. They are a couple with bright colorful costumes and have a sponsor symbol. The woman carries the flag and the man dances around her, bowing down with a big fan, not only to the woman but also to the flag.

Every comparsa has beautiful costumes: “espaldares” (they are costumes for wearing on the back) and headdress (it covers the head), also pectorals, shoulder pads, bracelets, belts, loincloths, thongs, boots, etc. The “espaldares” and the headdress importance - besides being beautiful and colorful - symbolize some figures what the group represents. Sometimes the representations are on the bracelets and the boots too. The rest of the costume are big and colorful, have to 2.5000 feathers and loads of sequins, pearls and other adornments that overcome to 500.000 pieces.

History

The first years of 20 century, the public march past by the road surrounded by familiar box seats on the pavements of 25 de Mayo.

Years after, carnivals with musical groups and masks appeared. About the middle of the seventies, it seemed that the carnival started to decline. In 1976, a businessman and a dance instructor created the first comparsa “Acorad”. In 1978, the first announcement for profiting is carried out, since it had been free and municipal.

Ten socio-sportive institutions accepted the community’s proposal for organizing the great carnival spectacle that was attractive and competitive.

The children comparsas from the west began as children play, but after it became more popular and decided to participate in “El Carnaval de la Alegría” in 1977.

In 1981 appears our carnival reached great splendor, more groups participated: Marí – Marí(dawn) fromCentral Enterrieno Club; Kamarr(Arabian Moon) belong to Sirio – Libanés Center and Ara Yeví(time to fun in Guaraní)belongs to Tiro Federa Club. Nowadays, it is the main event in the city.