Carnaval Porteño 2011 - Buenos Aires Carnival

Every weekend from Saturday, February 5 until Tuesday, March 8, 2011, the “Carnaval Porteño 2011” (Buenos Aires Carnival) will take place at different neighborhoods, with the participation of 17 thousand artists, 100 "murgas" (carnival bands), and over one thousand drums and percussion instruments.

The parades will be held from 7 PM to 2 AM on Saturdays, and from 7 PM to 12 AM on Sundays and Carnival Holidays (March 7 and 8).

This year there will also be Carnival shows at the Amphitheater Eva Peron in Parque Centenario, (Leopoldo Marechal & Lillo), on Fridays 11, 18 and 25 of February and Mach 4, at 8:00pm.

Murgas and carnival are the artistic expressions of the marginal neighborhoods, their songs and urban folk customs. The lyrics of these songs are called "criticas", and combine the social denunciation with humor and dancing. What identifies the "murga porteña" from others are their costumes (frock coat, gloves, top hat, and stick), the drums with cymbals, and the various traditional rhythms used to differentiate every neighborhood.

Where to watch the parades:

• Abasto: Av. Córdoba between Agüero and Sanchez de Bustamante: Feb 5, 6, 12, 13 
• Almagro: Av. Corrientes between Medrano and Bulnes: Feb 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 - March 5, 6, 7, 8
• Bajo Nunez: Arias between Arcos and Vuelta de Obligado: Feb 5, 6, 12, 13 19, 20, 26, 27 - March 5, 6, 7, 8.
• Balvanera: Av. Belgrano between Saavedra and Pasco: Feb 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 - March 5, 6, 7, 8
• Boedo 1: Av. Boedo between San Juan and Independencia: Feb 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 - March 5, 6, 7, 8
• Boedo 2: Av. Belgrano between Colombres and Maza: Feb 5, 6, 12, 13.
• Caballito: Av. Avellaneda between N. Oroño and F. Sarmiento: Feb 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 - March 5, 6, 7, 8
• Coghlan: Av Congreso between Donado and Lugones: Feb 5, 6, 12, 13 19, 20, 26, 27.
• Colegiales 1: Av. Federico Lacroze between R. Freire and Martínez: Feb 5, 6, 12, 13.
• Colegiales 2: Av. Federico Lacroze between Freire and Conesa:  Febr. 19, 20, 26, 27.
• Colegiales 3: Benjamin Matienzo between Conesa and Zapiola: March 5, 6, 7, 8
• Monserrat: Av. San Juan between Solis and Luis Saenz Pena: Feb 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 - March 5, 6.
• Palermo: Darwin between Gorriti and Cabrera: March 5, 6, 7, 8
• Parque Centenario: Lambaré between Corrientes and Bogado: Feb 19, 20.
• Saavedra 1: Av. Balbín between Plaza and Jaramillo: Feb 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 - March 5, 6, 7, 8.
• Saavedra 3: Av. Balbín between Pico and Arias: Feb 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 - March 5, 6, 7, 8.
• San Telmo: Av. San Juan between Defensa and Peru: Feb 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 - March 5, 6, 7, 8.
• Villa Crespo: Av. Scalabrini Ortiz between Av. Corrientes and Velasco: Feb 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 - March 5, 6,.
• Villa Urquiza: Av. Triunvirato between Monroe and Olazabal: Feb 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 - March 5, 6, 7, 8.

All the events are free of charge.