Mérida, Yucatán — The streets of Mérida’s historic center transformed into a walking circus on Thursday afternoon as the city’s 2026 Carnival festivities began with a children’s parade featuring 34 performance groups.
Starting at 4 p.m., circus-themed floats and performers filled the capital’s streets with music, dance, and colorful costumes. The parade route began on Calle 62, continued along Calle 61, turned onto Calle 60, and concluded at Santa Lucía Park.
The participating groups included 18 from the city’s Aprende Centers and 2 from the Library Education subdivision, all dressed in costumes reflecting this year’s circus theme. Clowns, magicians, exotic animal characters, and dancers showcased participants’ creativity throughout the procession.
Fourteen independent groups and dance academies including Fame, Fuerza y Alegría, Grupo Independiente FRN, Pasión Latina, and Grupo de Danza Chujuk Ha also participated, surprising attendees with their dynamic performances. Additional children’s groups from the Vergel, Ciudad Caucel, and Jardines de Nueva Mulsay neighborhoods presented dance, acrobatics, and circus performances.
Mérida Mayor Cecilia Patrón Laviada and Carnival Executive Secretary Mariana Villamil attended the parade, mingling with citizens and performers as part of the festive atmosphere.
The parade concluded with appearances by this year’s canine kings and queens—Myla, Jacaranda, Trufa, Vela, and Almendra—accompanied by the Animal Protection Unit. Their participation highlighted messages of environmental care and compassion for sentient beings.
Carnival events continue on Friday with the inaugural Corso parade starting at 8 p.m. from the Xmatkuil fairgrounds, where organizers expect more than 40,000 attendees for weekend performances continuing through Tuesday.
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