Havana to mark anniversary in carnival delight

As part of the festivities to celebrate Havana’s 484th birthday, the Cuban capital is holding a big-bash carnival from Nov. 8 to 16 together with a meeting of friendly mayors from overseas.

The baptizing of rolling pots, a children’s carnival, opening parades, dancing teams, an award-presenting ceremony and the closing parade will heighten Havana’s carnival celebrations this time around.

Other activities aimed at marking Havana’s 484th birthday are the 13th Iberian American Tourism Symposium, the Eighth Biennial of Fine Arts, the San Cristobal Festival, the Fourth Meeting of Literary Studies, the Children & Youth Festival, the Children’s Festival of Poetic Performance and the Party of the Drum.

There’ll also be sport competitions and contests in the Malecon (Seawall) area like parachuting exhibitions, skateboarding and biking, martial arts, K-9 abilities, games, marathon races, chess and checkers matches, weightlifting, hall soccer, boxing, hoop-it-up competitions and artistic gymnastics in several sport venues around the city.