Carnaval Porteño 2012 - Buenos Aires Carnival

Every weekend of February, from Saturday 4th until February 26th, and including Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st (Carnival Holidays), the “Carnaval Porteño 2012” (Buenos Aires Carnival) will take place at different neighborhoods, with the participation of 17 thousand artists, 119 "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 (February 20 and 21).

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 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26
• Almagro: Av. Corrientes between Medrano and Bulnes: Feb 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26
• Bajo Nunez: Ramallo between Arcos and Vuelta de Obligado: Feb 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26
• Balvanera: Av. Corrientes between Uriburu and Riobamba: Feb 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26
• Boedo 1: Av. Boedo between San Juan and Independencia: Feb 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26 
• Boedo 2: Av. Belgrano between Colombres and Maza: Feb 4, 5, 11, 12 
• Coghlan: Av Congreso between Donado and Mariano Acha: Feb 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26
• Colegiales 1: Av. Federico Lacroze between R. Freire and Martínez: Feb 4, 5
• Colegiales 2: Benjamin Matienzo between Freire and Conesa:  Febr. 18, 19, 20, 21 
• Colegiales 3: Av. Federico Lacroze between Freire and Conesa: Feb 11, 12, 25, 26
• Monserrat: Av. Independencia between Virrey Ceballos and San Jose: Feb 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26
• Palermo: Darwin between Honduras and Gorriti: Feb 18, 19, 20, 21
• Saavedra 1: Av. Balbín between Plaza and Jaramillo: Feb 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26
• Saavedra 2: Av. Balbín between Pico and Arias: Feb 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26
• San Telmo: Av. San Juan between Tacuari and Peru: Feb 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26
• Villa Crespo: Av. Scalabrini Ortiz between Av. Corrientes and Velasco: Feb 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26
• Villa Urquiza: Av. Triunvirato between Monroe and Olazabal: Feb 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26

All the events are free of charge.

NOTICE: The Carnaval celebrations for the weekend of February 25th and 26th have been canceled due to the mourning days decreed by the government after the train crash that killed 51 people in Buenos Aires.