2013 Mardi Gras Parade in Vallarta's Romantic Zone - Not likely! Rick Hepting - Carnival Vallarta
go to original January 30, 2013

In the past four years of fun and floats parading to the Old Town Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta, it has always been a great event organized by Carnival Vallarta, mainly consisting of the gay community in Vallarta.

What a delight to have the costumed "queens" on floats throwing candy and condoms to the awaiting parade attendees on the streets.
 
The Puerto Vallarta 2013 Carnaval Parade was hoped to happen on Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, February 12, 2013.

Unfortunately, the original committee from last year has been fired and the City of Puerto Vallarta, under a new conservative leadership that has determined that we produced, although a very popular parade, one that was too sexual in content, too gay, and the city is now in the process of putting together a parade more in keeping with their "family values" and corporate sponsorship concepts.

The new concept is to have a parade rivaling Matzatlan's with corporations spending 50,000 pesos on floats. It is planned to travel from the Hotel zone to the Malecon, skipping the Zona Romantica.

We have been told that there would be no permit issued for a separate southside parade.

Please contact the city of Puerto Vallarta for parade entries, dates, etc.

I do not speak for everyone that has ever been involved in this parade – there are many of us. I speak only for myself as the webmaster and an organizer for 2 years.

We look forward to seeing how the community feels about the proposed changes. Any questions, comments, or suggestions are welcome by adding your opinions to the comments box below. Check back for the feedback.