This past weekend, the last weekend before the carnival, saw a host of pre-carnival events! The weekend kicked off with La Guacherna on Friday, February 6th. La Guacherna is the biggest pre-carnival parade with over 20,000 dance group members parading through the streets and over 20,000 attendees. The parade dancers usually wear colorful costumes decked out in LED lights.
Carnaval de la 84: Noche de Faroles y Tambores
On Saturday night, February 7, the iconic Calle 84 lit up with the traditional Noche de Faroles y Tambores, marking the official start of the Carnaval de la 84 in Barranquilla. The parade began late at 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of Carrera 47 with Calle 84 and advanced along this emblematic corridor until Carrera 64, ending at Parque de la Electrificadora, where thousands of spectators enjoyed a vibrant display of culture and folklore. Organized by the Fundación de Arte y Folclor del Atlántico (Fayfa), the night paid special tribute to the group Palma Africana and its director Carmen Meléndez for five decades dedicated to preserving carnival tradition. Danzas de tradición, comparsas de fantasía, colorful costumes, letanías and marching bands transformed the street into a river of music, light and joy that highlighted citizen culture and love for Barranquilla’s heritage. With this luminous route of drums and lanterns, residents and visitors alike experienced an authentic prelude to the great days of Carnaval 2026, reaffirming Calle 84 as one of the city’s favorite stages for celebrating identity and popular memory.
Petlovers Guaucherna on the Gran Malecón
On Sunday, February 8, the Gran Malecón became the joyful meeting point for families and their pets during the Petlovers Guaucherna, part of the Carnaval PetLovers 2026. Inspired by Barranquilla’s traditional Guacherna, this special parade invited “multispecies” families to enjoy the carnival spirit with their dogs as protagonists, promoting animal welfare and responsible pet ownership in a festive, inclusive atmosphere. Along the Malecón, from the Caimán del Río area to the Plaza de los Marinos, costumed pets paraded on foot and on themed floats, accompanied by music, comparsas and enthusiastic spectators who turned the riverfront into a colorful corridor of four-legged revelers. The event, led by Fundación PetLovers and supported by veterinary brands and local allies, included adoption and sterilization campaigns, educational talks, and spaces for consulting veterinarians and nutrition advisors, reinforcing its social and educational focus beyond the parade itself. With activities, contests and special promotions for pet owners, the Petlovers Guaucherna consolidated itself as a beloved carnival tradition that shows that in Barranquilla, the joy of Carnaval is also lived and barked by the city’s pets.
