Uruguayan Carnival festivities are the longest of their kind in the world. They start at the beginning of January and run all the way to mid March. Over the course of over 50 days, lively and colorful parties fill the streets with joy in every neighborhood.

The holiday starts in Montevideo with the Inaugural Parade on 18 de Julio Avenue where the participating groups march alongside their floats while the Queens of Carnival woo the audience. On the other hand, the party that really catches the attention of our visitors is the Desfile de Llamadas that takes place in the neighborhoods of Barrio Sur and Palermo, evoking a ritualistic meeting, historically orchestrated by slaves of the colonial times who would get together outside of the city during the 18th and 19th centuries. Thousands of spectators flock to see the vibrant spectacle that can be defined as a sort of communication between the three kinds of drums used in Candombe; the chico, repique and piano. The Desfile de Llamadas, is a spectacle unlike any other in the world where more than 2,000 drums can be heard playing at once. Let yourself be taken away by the rhythm declared as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Another favored activity to experience while in Uruguay is Murga, a truly authentic expression of our culture. During our sultry February nights, these carnival ensembles compete on neighborhood theater stages, otherwise known as tablados, in the Official Carnival Competition. Each group is awarded points for their humor and general satirical view on current affairs in the country combined with festive costumes, creative makeup and song. Parodists, Revues, Comedians and Lubolos are all different expressions of this unique Uruguayan theater to be enjoyed by all audiences.

Equally as entertaining and important are the carnivlas celebrated in the cities outside of Montevideo which also have their own Inaugural Parades, each with its own style. Cities closer to the border—Rivera, Artigas and Melo share similar Brazilian-style carnival themes mixed with the Uruguayan traditions.

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