Oruro Carnaval 2025 in Bolivia

Oruro Carnaval has been proclaimed a masterpiece of the Heritage of Humanity and is a truly outstanding event. The festivities, held around February, in the middle of Bolivian summer, feature a spectacular procession with over 30 thousand costumed dancers and singers walking a 2.5-mi (4 km) long route to celebrate the Virgin of the Candle Mass. Performers reenact the fight between Good and Evil.

Dates

This vibrant spectacle usually kicks off the week before Ash Wednesday, around 55 days before Easter, and spans until noon on Ash Wednesday. The main carnival and the most-anticipated events normally unfold towards the end of the celebrations. If you arrive before that, you have a chance to witness the Festival of the Bands, rehearsals, and vibrant vigils. This year, the parades and processions through Oruro take place on March 1-4.

Carnival Program & Events

The Oruro Carnaval has been happening for around two millennia and nowadays reflects both ancient Aymara​ traditions and Christian beliefs. During four days, the revelers indulge in merriment and festive delicacies. The highlights include Festival Bandas, which begins a whirlwind of festivities, a ceremony dedicated to the Virgen del Socavon, El Tio night, celebrated on a Carnival Friday, the main Parade on Saturday, and Devil's Monday. The last day of the carnival is usually marked with a huge water battle.

Main Carnival Parade (March 1, 2025)

The colorful Saturday Parade, also known as Entrada Folklórica, represents a unique procession, reflecting a mixture of Christian and indigenous motives. The main characters include Archangel San Miguel, Lucifer, a devil woman China Supa, bears, pumas, monkeys, and condors, sacred to the Uru mythology.

The famous devil dance, performed during the parade, is all about the battle between good and evil. Overall, the parade features more than 50 dancing and performance groups, while around 400,000 spectators line the streets to watch the show. The event usually kicks off early in the morning, at around 7 am.

Other Parades & Events (March 2-4, 2025)

If you missed Entrada Folklórica, you still have a chance to experience the thrill and charm of Oruro's carnival. On Sunday, Oruro carnival bands pass the Santuario del Socavón as part of the early morning parade, while on Monday, the city is filled to the brim with traditional masses and dance performances, sending farewell to the carnival. Tuesday promises an unforgettable display of challa rituals, during which Bolivians scatter flower petals all over the ground, bury a pot with various offerings, and decorate their homes. This is done as a sign of gratitude to goddess Pachamama, Mother Earth.

Parade Route

The parade normally starts at the intersection of Potosí & Aroma or at Bolívar Street, then passes Plaza 10 de Febrero, La Plata, La Petot, and Civic Avenue. On the way, paradegoers also pass Santuario del Socavón, a stunning Catholic church in Oruro.