Cities Cancel Carnaval Festivities and Events Due to Crisis

02/22/2017 - 12h41

The financial crisis confronting some municipalities in addition to weather conditions have contributed to the cancelling of Carnaval festivities and activities this year in cities throughout Brazil.

In other localities, the celebrations have been reduced to save money.

A survey conducted by Folha found that at least 37 events with public sponsorship have been canceled this year in 13 different States, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Paraná and Pernambuco.

In the São Paulo countryside, the tourist resort of São Luiz do Paraitinga canceled its traditional Carnaval.

According to the local government, this is due to indebtedness it inherited including for expenses related to Carnaval of 2016.

Another tourist resort, Batatais, won't have a samba school parade for the second year in a row. The event, expected to cost R$1 million (US$ 320 thousand), won't be held because City Hall's coffers are empty.

In Minas Gerais, at least eight cities have canceled the festivities, like Pouso Alegre and Patos de Minas.

In Rio de Janeiro, seven more cities have opted to follow the same path.

In Arauama, Mayor Livia Bello signed a decree suspending Carnaval festivities and transferring R$ 390 thousand (US$ 125 thousand) from the party to the purchase of hospital equipment.

Barreiras, which usually holds the largest Carnaval in western Bahia, won't have a celebration for the second year in a row. If the reason in 2016 was excessive rain, this year it is the opposite: the city declared a state of emergency due to drought.

Even in locales where celebrations are scheduled to take place, they have been downsized due the crisis. This is the case in Tibagi, which has one of the most traditional Carnavals in the State of Paraná, dating back 107 years.

In Curitiba, which is famous for not having a Carnaval, the date is known for its alternative events like Electronic Carnaval, the Zombie Walk, and its Pre-Carnaval group.

This year, the Mayor's Office removed all of the events from the official calendar, thereby reducing its expenses on infrastructure.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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