Colonial Zone News Blog » 2012 » February

Independence Day 2012

Janette — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:25:59 +0000

Monday February 27th is the day we celebrate Independence Day/ Día de la Independencia. Día de la Bandera / Flag Day. On February 27, 1844 the country declared its independence from Haitian occupation and retook the name República Dominicana (Dominican Republic).

This is the Shield from the center of the Dominican Flag (more history of the The Flag / La Bandera and The Dominican Flag Coat of Arms (Shield) / El Escudo Dominicano). This is on the front of the monument dedicated to the Founding Fathers of Dominican Republic

The day starts with honoring our founding fathers Juan Pablo Duarte, Francisco del Rosario Sanchez and Ramon Matias Mella. Later in the afternoon is the military parade when all the armed forces and military personnel come out dressed in all their splendor.

The parade usually starts about 3PM on the Malecon (Avenida George Washington)in Santo Domingo. The crowds line the streets to watch. The Air force flies their planes overhead, the ships of the Marines are in the sea as the Military bands play their music and march for the enthusiastic crowds.

This is picture slide show from the Independence Day Military Parade in 2008

Below are some links to more videos on You Tube that I took in the past years. I hope to get some new ones this year.

Marching Band 2009

More Marching 2009

The Old Time Troupes 2009

Carnival Update 2012

Janette — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:32:46 +0000

Carnival Updates from Presidente Cerveza. Lots of good stuff happening this weekend!

Carnaval de Santiago Saturday 25 and Sunday 26
Parade both days from 2PM to 6PM
Concert Sunday with Banda Real and Milly Quezada and Orchestra from 6PM to 9PM

Carnaval Moca Sunday 26
Parade starts at 2PM to 6PM
Concert with Los Pepe (Doble T y El Crock), Crazy Design and MC Jay at the Parque Ramón Cáceres from 6PM to 9PM

Carnaval del Distrito Nacional on Churchill and Jose Contreras
Saturday 25 and Sunday 26
Parade both days from 2PM to 6PM
Concert Saturday Calentamiento en Bakkus with DJ Joan at 6PM to 9PM
Concert Sunday with Don Miguelo and Kinito Méndez

Carnaval Santo Domingo Este Sunday 26 on Avenida España
Parade from 2PM to 6PM
Concert with Los Pepe, Mambo with Juliana, Omega y Su Mambo Violento from 6PM to 9PM

Carnaval de Bonao Saturday 25, Sunday 26, Monday 27 and Sunday (March) 11
Parades from 2PM to 6PM
Concerts from 6PM to 9PM
Sábado 25 – Calentamiento con la Materialista
Domingo 26 – Salida de los Macaraos with Alex Bueno and El Jeffrey
Lunes 27 – Salida de los Macaranos con Toño Rosario y Nelson de la Olla
Domingo (Marzo) 11 – The Reginal Grand Finale/ Desfile regional Gran Cierre with Omega y su Mambo and Mozart la Para

More carnival information the customs and costumes of Carnaval Dominicano

Mana in Santo Domingo 2012

Janette — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:04:09 +0000

SD Concerts brings the Mexican group Maná to Santo Domingo. Sponsored by Corona Beer Mana will return for a much anticipated concert after a four year absence in Dominican Republic. The Latin Pop Rock band will be promoting their new disc “Drama y Luz”.

The show is on Wednesday March 14/ miércoles 14 de marzo 2012 at the Estadio Quisqueya of Santo Domingo. The Quisqueya Stadium is on Avenida Tiradentes and Avenida San Martín, in Ensanche La Fe, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
www.estadioquisqueya.com.do

The ticket prices start at RD$700. More information about Mana Tickest at Ticket Express.

Maná won a 2012 Grammy Award for best Latino Pop Rock Urban Music for their disc “Drama y Luz”

This is an official video of their song “Amor Clandestino”

For all things Maná visit their official web site.

El Canario Valentines Day Concert

Janette — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:32:14 +0000

Jose Alberto, known as El Canario will be having a concert Salsa Con Amore, for Valentines Day. He will be playing with his orchestra at his own bar, The Canario Patio Loungeon Calle Atarazana in the Colonial Zone.

After one year out of Dominican Republic Jose Alberto is returning for his romantic concert with a nomination for a Latin Grammy in 2011 under his belt.

For tickets and more information you can call the Canario Patio Lounge at 809-689-1075.

Anthony Ocana Comes Home

Janette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:38:07 +0000

Anthony Ocaña native of Dominican Republic living in Spain will be playing his unique style of music on Saturday February/ sabado febrero 11, 2012. He will be playing at 8:30PM in the Palacio de Bellas Artes, sala Máximo Avilés Blonda located on Avenida Máximo Gómez and Independencia, Gazcue, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Ocana writes and composes his own contemporary style of music played on the guitar. This Valentines concert I an sure will be very special.

To listen to Antony Ocaña “Nostalga” and get a little history.

Tickets can be purchased at Ticket Express or at the Palacio de Bellas Artes for RD$700 balcony and RD$1,000 floor.

XV Feria del Libro Dominicana 2012

Janette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:25:13 +0000

The 15th International Book Fair Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic/ XV Feria Internacional del Libro Santo Domingo de la República Dominicana will be held from April 18 to May 6, 2012. The event will take place in the Plaza de la Cultura Juan Pablo Duarte in Santo Domingo.

This, the fifteenth year of the event, the Santo Domingo International Book Fair is dedicated to Central America. The special yearly honor goes to the late poet, novelist and essayist local Enriquillo Sánchez. Sanchez, who was part of the founding team of the event, died in 2004 at age 57. Some of his more famous books are “Pájaro dentro de la lluvia” and “Convicto y confeso”. He was also the winner of the National Poetry Prize Salomé Ureña/ Nacional de Poesía Salomé Ureña and Ruben Dario Latin American Poetry Contest/ Premio Latinoamericano de Poesía Rubén Darío. The Director General of the event, Alejandro Arvelo says Sanchez was an extraordinary intellectual, writer and winner benchmark figure contemporary literature of the country.

The event will also commemorate the centenary of the birth of local writer Hector Incháustegui Cabral/ escritor local Héctor Incháustegui Cabral (1912-1979) and his compatriot María Montez (1912-1951)who was born in Barahona. She conquered Hollywood in the forties and earned the title “Queen of Technicolor”/ “La reina del tecnicolor”.

The Fair also will honor Spanish poet and painter Eugenio Fernández Granell (1912-2001) who was exiled to Dominican Republic after the Spanish Civil War (1936-39).

Arvelo announced that writers, editors and artists from Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama will participate actively in the book fair this year.

I will update when there is more information available.

More information about the event and how to enter at http://www.ferilibro.com

Dominican Republic Wins Serie Caribe 2012

Janette — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:13:27 +0000

Even though all the games in the schedule have not been played DR has won! The team from Puerto Rico defeated Mexico which means that the team representing Republica Dominicana, Leones del Escogido, have won 4 games and noone can win as many.

Dominican Republic had 4 wins and 0 losses. Mexico was in second place with 2wins and 2 losses. Puerto Rico has 1 win and 3 losses and Venezuela comes in last with 1 win and 3 losses.

Dominican Republic has won the most Caribbean Series championships than any other country in the 50 year history of the series. Dominican Republic has won the Series Championship 19 times. Next year it will be 20!!!

Serie Caribe 2012 Opening Program

Janette — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:15:32 +0000

This is the Caribbean Baseball Series/ Serie Caribe 2012 opening program in Dominican Republic. It is an honor to Carnaval Dominicano!

Carnival Activities and Information 2012

Janette — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:03:31 +0000

It is Carnival time again in Dominican Republic! This is all the information I have collected about the different towns, when they are celebrating, what’s going on, where you can see the action if you are not here. I have been searching and searching and this is all I could find. Any information you have about activities in different places throughout Dominican Republic please post in the comments or send me an email.
*Newest update about Carnaval Dominicano updates.

Please remember. There are going to be many people of all types at these Carnival celebrations. Most are there to enjoy and have fun. There are some looking to take advantage and rob what you have when you are not looking. Be aware of your surroundings and your belongings. Take pictures but be aware of who is around you before you lift the camera (I had my camera stolen our of my hand while taking a picture one year). Do not wear jewelry. Keep items in front pockets and do not carry anything that is not necessary.

Presidente Cerveza will be providing free concerts to all their sponsored Carnivals on Sunday.

“VIVE EL CARNAVAL” se transmite de lunes a viernes de 6:00 a 7:00 de la noche por Telesistema 11, un canal de emociones. This they will be transmitting Monday thru Friday from 6 to 7PM all things Carnival.

The Grand National Carnival Parade/ Gran Desfile Nacional de Carnaval is the big, National Carnaval parade with the winners of all the Carnivals held throughout the Dominican Republic. It is celebrated along the Malecón in the city of Santo Domingo. It will be held March 4th and is sponsored by Presidente. They offer three awards for best costumes. 1st place gets RD$500,000.00, 2nd RD$300,000.00 and 3rd RD$100,000.00.

Brahma is the sponsor of the carnival in La Vega. The Carnaval of La Vega is the most popular and known internationally. This carnival is held every Sunday in February. The concerts this year are –
Daddy Yankee on the 5th
Victor Manuelle on the 12th
Tito el Bambino an the 19th
RKM and Kenny Y + Zion and Lennox on the 26th
Microvision will be broadcasting live in La Vega for Carnival Vengano.

Other Carnivals through Dominican Republic.

Carnival of Santo Domingo East/ Carnaval de Santo Domingo Este will be along Av. España.
Sunday 12: entertainment by Toño Rosario y Mozart La Para
Sunday 19: entertainment by Kinito Méndez
Sunday 26: Sergio Vargas, Juliana, Doble T and Crow (Los Pepes).

Santo Domingo, District National for the second year will be having their district Carnaval celebrations along Av. Winston Churchill each Sunday.

Carnaval Punta Cana celebration will be Saturday/ sábado March/ Marzo 10.

Carnival of Bonao sponsored by Presidente returns to the traditional Ave. Duarte in the center of town every Sunday in February. http://www.carnavalbonao.com. Broadcast on CERTV canal 4, Mayimbe TV canal 8 y Magu Music Televisión canal 8, (a list of the Television stations and Radio stations of Dominican Republic)

Carnaval de Santiago de los Caballeros starts on Wednesday of each week getting ready for the big Sunday event with performances by musical groups in the country. There will be many lechódromos around the Monumento, Avenida Francia, Calle Daniel Espinal y Las Carreras.
Telemedios (Canal 25), Teleuniverso Canal 29, Teleunión, Megavision y Súper TV 55.

San Juan de la Maguana celebrates Carnaval Cimarrón.
La Z-101 FM, Tele cable San Juan y Radio Televisión Dominicana will be transmitting the activities. http://www.maguana.net Sunday March 25 is their celebration of Carnival and Semana Santa.

Carnaval Salcedo is held on the main street passing by the church every Sunday in February with the ultimate parade on March 11.

Carnaval Mao has celebrations every Saturday and Sunday in February.

Carnival in Baní is called Carnaval Banilejo is held in Bani (the last Sunday in March each year) March 25th. New information I read says it will be celebrated March 18 so I am not sure.

Carnival Azua is usually celebrated on February 27, Independence Day in Dominican Republic.

Carnival Bayaguana is on Sunday 11 of March.

San José de Ocoa, “CARNAMANIEL” Saturday March 31, 2012

Carnival Mao is on Sunday March 11th.

Carnaval Cabral in Barahona 7 to 9 of April.

Carnaval de Cotuí is on Monday the 27th of February.

Carnaval Dajabón is on Sunday March 18.

Constanza Carnaval is on Monday the 27th of February.

Carnival Neiba Monday February 27.

Elías Piña Carnival and Semana Santa Celebrations Sunday March 11.

Montecristí Carnaval is every Sunday in February ending February 26.

Fantino Saturday March 10.

Haina Carnival Sunday March 18.

Jiminí celebrates on Saturday March 17.

Nagua celebrates Monday February 27.

Nigua Carnival is Sunday the 11th of March.

Pímentel Sunday February 27th.

Río San Juan carnival celebrations are Sunday Feb. 19.

Sabana Grande de Boyá is Sunday February 26.

San Pedro de Macorís, Carnaval Consuelo, every Sunday. Other information I read says Sunday March 11, so I am not really sure.

Carnival in Puerto Plata is every Sunday in February ending on the 18th of March.

Samaná Carnival is Monday the 27th of Feb.

San Cristobal is Monday the 27th of February.

San Francisco de Macorís is Monday the 27th of February.

La Romana Carnaval is Sunday March 25th.

Carnaval Punta Cana is on Saturday March 10.

Yerba Buena, Hato Mejor is celebrating Monday Feb. 27.

Many of these places have celebrations throughout February but for sure they are celebrating on the posted dates. Information is so difficult to find.

History and traditions Dominican Carnival.

Information about the masks and Carnival Characters.

Our collection of hundreds of pictures of the Carnival.

Marcos Caminero, Xiomara Fortuna ft Diomedes y el Grupo Mío “Pa La Calle En Carnaval”

Presidente Cerveza Carnaval Commercial