San Diegans have a trio of Carnaval, Mardi Gras fests to attend
By Chris Nixon
February 3, 2005
Attending the Brazilian Carnaval and the last-ditch parties of Mardi Gras is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, evoking images of beautiful people adorned in colorful costumes dancing to the propulsive drums of the samba through the sweaty tropical night until dawn.
Of course, Rio de Janeiro and its legendary Carnaval parties are more than 3,000 miles due south. But getting a taste of the Mardi Gras vibe is a simple trolley ride away.
San Diegans should deem themselves lucky to have three top-notch Carnaval and Mardi Gras festivals to check out: the 10th annual Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp, the fourth annual Hillcrest Mardi Gras Street Party and the San Diego Brazil Carnaval 2005 at 4th & B nightclub.
All three events are 21-and-up parties and not suitable for the kids. So if you have kids, flip on a CD of samba music and have a homespun dance party. Maybe you could even conjure up a little Cajun food.
But for those who yearn to get their groove on Mardi Gras style, San Diego's three different flavors of Carnaval and Fat Tuesday may be just what the doctor ordered for you.
The new kids on the block
The Brazilian Carnaval traditionally begins on Saturday and ends on Fat Tuesday, the last day before the Catholic observance of Lent. Catholic parishioners observe 40 days of penitence during Lent, so Fat Tuesday is their last day to let it all hang loose.
Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp basics
Price: $15 in advance, $20 at the gate
Location: Gaslamp District, downtown San Diego
Time: Tuesday, 5 p.m.
Information: (619) 233-5008 or www.gaslamp.org/mardigras.php
The schedule:
Bourbon Street Dance Stage (6th and G Street)
5 p.m. – DJ Scott Martin
6 p.m. – Danielle Lo Presti & The Masses
7 p.m. – DJ Johnny Johnson
8 p.m. – 80's All Stars
9 p.m. – Knight Fever
10 p.m. – DJ Marc Thrasher
Zydeco Blues Stage (Sixth and Island Avenue)
5 p.m. – Ragin' Cajun DJ Tony Mirador
6 p.m. – Uptown Rhythm Makers
7:30 p.m. – David Patrone's Flat Five Combo
9:30 p.m. – Theo and the Zydeco Patrol
11 p.m. – The Modern Jazz Majestics
Urban Groove Stage (Fourth and F Street)
6:30 p.m. – Atari
8 p.m. – Kid Krazzy
9 p.m. – Scooter and Lavelle
10:30 p.m. – Miss Lisa
Steve Spencer and his partner, Christine Portella, have organized Brazilian Carnaval celebrations in San Diego for the past 13 years. Spencer, a San Diego native who traveled extensively in Brazil, brings together the city's diverse communities to dress up and dance the samba.
This year's festival includes performances by Brazilian reggae band Banda Diaspora and the percussion-driven SambaDa
featuring vocalist Dandha
da Hora, along with dance and costume contests. And, as Spencer has said: "It became my passion to bring some of that happiness, joy and celebration of life to San Diego."
On the more flamboyant and outrageous side, Hillcrest's Mardi Gras Street Party on Tuesday caters to the gay and lesbian crowd. Candye Kane, Babette Schwartz and the ladies from Lips will perform, along with go-go dancers and DJs pumping out electronica.
The Hillcrest event is relatively new, but seems to gain momentum every year. One thing's for sure: Hillcrest festivalgoers take their costumes seriously.
Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp
The biggest festival remains Fat Tuesday's Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp.
With a decade under its belt, the organizers have the production down to a science. The party draws huge crowds now, but the festival comes from humble roots.
Hillcrest Mardi Gras Street Party basics
Price: $15 in advance, $20 at the door
Location: University Avenue between First and Fourth avenues
Time: Tuesday, 6 p.m.-midnight
Information: (619) 299-3330 or www.hillcrestmardigras.org
The lineup
Tootie, Babette Schwartz
Candye Kane
All Worlds Video GoGo Boys
The Monicas
Chad Michaels
DJ Taj (San Diego)
"Mardi Gras has grown from a simple parade inspired by a couple of pioneering people in the Gaslamp on a traditionally slow Tuesday in February or March to help business," said Dan Flores of the Gaslamp Quarter Association. "It has now filled out into a Gaslamp-wide festival produced by a professional event organizer with an attendance of 40,000 to 50,000 people."
Flores also described a few of the new aspects to this year's festival: "This year will include strolling and roving entertainment through the streets of the Gaslamp. Mardi Gras attendees will see performances by the Critical Brass Band, a Cuban ensemble, a Brazilian samba band and the Procrastinators."
Brazil Carnaval
Price: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
Location: 4th & B, 345 B St.
Day and time: Saturday, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Information: (619) 231-4343 or www.brazilcarnival.com
The lineup
Samba featuring vocalist Dandha da Hora
Banda Diaspora
Jazz & Samba de Alegria
The Riobela Samba dancers
One of Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp's biggest draws is the annual parade, in which locally sponsored floats cruise downtown's avenues throwing out beads and trinkets along the way. Three stages of music will provide the backdrop for the evening's festivities, with performance by Danielle LoPresti, David Patrone's Flat Five Combo, Theo and the Zydeco Patrol and DJ party music from Scooter and Lavelle.
Flores added: "We hope people will come away from the event with a unique experience that only the Gaslamp Quarter can provide and help people embrace the traditions of Mardi Gras in a unique San Diego way."
Chris Nixon is a San Diego writer.
Look for SignOnSanDiego.com's coverage of Mardi Gras on Wednesday at entertainment.signonsandiego.com, including extensive photo galleries of the night's festivities.
