Following a meeting with all the groups, associations, and clubs that regularly participate in carnival activities, the Cieza City Council has announced the unanimous decision to suspend carnival activities.
At this meeting, several alternatives were put on the table, but none of them were viable, and it was decided that, due to the current restrictions that prevent the celebration of one of the main events of the Ciezano carnival, the traditional parade and costume contest, and the lack of time that would occur if the health authorities decided to lift these restrictions to prepare costumes and props, the most reasonable option is to suspend activities.
The head of the Department of Festivities, Mª Jesús López, stated that "it is a painful decision, which we wanted to reach an agreement with the main protagonists of the carnival, but it is necessary given the current infection rates and the impossibility of adapting activities to the current situation.
Individuals in Cieza will be able to dress up, but we'll have to wait another year to hold the traditional parade and recapture the successful 2019 celebrations in the tent set up in Plaza de España, aiming to revive the legendary Shrove Tuesday festivities.
I appreciate the good sense and collaboration demonstrated by all the meeting participants, who once again put responsibility before the desire to revive our carnival, putting responsibility first, in light of the serious health situation, to avoid any situation that could encourage crowding in public spaces and thoroughfares.