Color explosion, tradition, and culture! Herrera Carnival celebrates its 43rd edition in style!

Santo Domingo Oeste. – With an impressive display of music, creativity, and folklore, the Herrera Carnival celebrated its forty-third edition, reaffirming itself as one of the most vibrant and anticipated cultural manifestations in the Dominican Republic. Joy overflowed in every corner of Isabel Aguiar Avenue, in which comparsas and traditional characters filled a cultural day with magic that will be etched in the collective memory of the municipalities of Santo Domingo Oeste.

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The organization of the event was led by Wascar Rivera, president of the Organizing Committee and the Carnival Union of Santo Domingo Oeste (Ucasdo), who once again demonstrated their capacity for coordination and commitment to strengthening the popular traditions of this locality.

It should be noted that every detail was carefully prepared to ensure a safe, dynamic event, imbued with cultural identity, thus consolidating the prestige of this celebration that has endured for more than four decades. In this number 43 edition, the crown fell on two renowned communicators of the municipality, namely, Queen America Perez and King Ray Contreras, who enthusiastically and committedly assumed the honor of representing the festive and cultural spirit of the carnival throughout the entire tour. Their election symbolizes the link between communication, culture, and community. It is important to note that this event was especially dedicated to the Vice Minister of the Presidency, Scarlet Benzan, in recognition of her constant support for the cultural, social, and community initiatives of Santo Domingo Oeste. Meanwhile, the president of the Organizing Committee, Wascar Rivera, highlighted the importance of the Herrera Carnival, emphasizing that this celebration “represents the very essence of our people, their creativity, their history, and their ability to unite around culture.” Rivera took the opportunity to express his gratitude for the joint effort of the organizing team that accompanied him, such as Magdalena Delgado, Ramón Garcés, Roberto Jiménez (Ico) and Julio Pérez, as well as Ucasdo, the Herrera Cultural Center, comparsas, sponsors and authorities who made the resounding success of the event possible.

Public Support

As every year, thousands of residents of the municipality of Santo Domingo Oeste gathered to enjoy this great folkloric festival, joined by visitors from different areas of the country, evidencing this crowded presence the roots of a carnival that transcends the local to become a national cultural reference. The cultural and traditional sense manifested itself in each troupe, in the “diablos cojuelos”, in the historical characters and in the artistic expressions that year after year keep the essence of the people alive. Institutional support was a key element for the realization of this great cultural celebration, among which are the Administrative Ministry of the Presidency, the Cervecería Nacional Dominicana through its Presidente brand, the City Council of Santo Domingo Oeste (ASDO), congresswoman Leivy Bautista, the vice minister Scarlet Benzan, the councilman Jorge Luis Pérez and the political-community leaders Francisco Luciano and Vinicio Aquino, in addition to other governmental institutions and private companies committed to the cultural development of the municipality. Wascar Rivera also stated that the collaboration between the public and private sectors reaffirms the importance of investing in culture as a driver of social cohesion and community development. With this successful 43rd celebration, the Herrera Carnival is established as a living tradition that strengthens the identity of Santo Domingo Oeste and projects its cultural richness to the entire country. Throughout the development of the cultural festival of Santo Domingo Oeste, the presentation of local artists such as Unic Mambo and others stood out, achieving a spectacular closing thanks to the efforts of Scarlet Benzan and the Administrative Ministry of the Presidency, in the voice of the popular merengue singer Manny Cruz, who thrilled the entire Herrera community.