Carnival (Carnaval in spanish)
– noun 1. a traveling amusement show, having sideshows, rides, etc.
2. any merrymaking, revelry, or festival, as a program of sports or entertainment: a winter carnival.
3. the season immediately preceding Lent, often observed with merrymaking; Shrovetide.

n. often Carnival (wikipedia): The period of merrymaking and feasting celebrated just before Lent.
A traveling amusement show usually including rides, games, and sideshows.
Carnival usually involves a public celebration or parade combining elements
of a circus, with masks, costumes and a public street party.
In the case of Puerto Vallarta, people dress up, have decorated floats/vehicles and masquerade
during the nighttime celebrations, which traditionally marks an overturning of daily life.

A 'gay' festival or revel: winter carnival and what I personally consider to be part of a Puerto Vallarta gay pride.
However, the Carnaval Puerto Vallarta has been organized by both straight and gay people
and both straight and gay establishments (see below) from around the city participate in the parade-festivities.

In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico the parade-festival for this season was held on Saturday, February 18, 2012
The previous year it was on Saturday, March 5, 2011, with other Mardi Gras/Spring Fever festivities from March 3-8, 2011.

For the first time festivities and the parade of floats which started at 9pm on February 18, 2012
began at the northern end of the downtown Malecon near Hidalgo Park,
going down Morelos and Ignacio Vallarta streets into the South Side and along Basilio Badillo and Olas Altas streets.

Celebrations took place during the second weekend of February in 2009 and 2010
and the parade followed the then traditional route up and down Carranza, Olas Altas, Pulpito and Basilio Badillo streets.

Participants in the 2011 carnaval parade included such gay nightlife spots as Anonimo, Apaches, Frida bar, La Noche,
Club Manana, Paco's Ranch, the Palm, Reinas bar, and Tease; gay hotel Blue Chairs, gay resort Casa Cupula, and
Boana Torre Malibu apartments; and the invaluable non-profit gay community center SETAC.

Some of the straight Puerto Vallarta accommodations, restaurants and stores included Casa Isabel, Dragon Rojo,
Joe Jack’s Fish Shack, Margarita Grill, Mi Bodeguita del Barrio, Nacho Daddy, Sol beer, Tsunami, and Vallarta Scene.

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Next eight Puerto Vallarta pictures of carnival and parade 2010 and 2011 below thanks to Benoit Gagnon

photos also from 2011 thanks to Alberta Faith Lopez

Next 4 pictures of February 2012 Puerto Vallarta mardi gras-carnival parade and celebrations thanks to Benoit Gagnon

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