The fate of the 2027 Las Tablas carnival will be determined by its organizing board, not the municipal government, according to Mayor Noé Herrera. The announcement comes as authorities continue assessing damage to the Santa Librada church tower, which sits along the parade route and was affected by an October 9 earthquake.
Herrera made the statement Tuesday from Las Tablas, Los Santos province, confirming the municipality stands ready to support the festivities if organizers decide to proceed. The mayor’s remarks clarify the division of responsibilities between local government and the committee that works with the Calle Arriba and Calle Abajo tunas, the rival factions central to the celebration’s identity.
Municipal Role in Las Tablas Carnival Planning
Herrera rejected the notion that the mayor’s office holds authority over whether the event takes place. Instead, he emphasized the organizing board’s autonomy in making that call.
“What I have to make clear is that the Carnival Board is the one that decides whether it goes ahead or not. If it is willing to hold the Carnival in 2027, it will have the full support of the municipality to do so in the city of Las Tablas” [Translated from Spanish]
The mayor outlined the municipality’s actual function, which centers on establishing legal parameters for the celebration and approving activities within it. He described the process as issuing a decree that governs the event’s legal framework and granting permits for carnival-operations. This distinction matters because the Las Tablas carnival ranks among Panama’s most significant cultural events, drawing thousands of visitors annually to witness the traditional rivalry between the two tunas.
La Junta del Carnaval de Las Tablas deberá tomar la decisión sobre la realización de los carnavales 2027, así lo indicó el alcalde del distrito, Noé Herrera. Hay preocupación debido a los daños que presenta la Iglesia de Santa Librada, ubicada frente al Parque Porras. https://t.co/xAzMw8wmZE
— Telemetro Reporta (@TReporta) November 11, 2026
Santa Librada Church Tower Assessment
Repair work on the Santa Librada church tower remains a critical concern due to its location facing Parque Porras, directly on the route used for the Desfile de las Mil Polleras and the carnival parades. Herrera confirmed that architects, technicians, and local authorities will meet Wednesday to evaluate the structure’s condition.
The mayor said he met with the organizing board last week and underscored the urgency of repairs. The Ministry of Culture is actively working to address the damage, according to Herrera. Asked whether a single meeting would determine the carnival’s future, he pointed instead to the pace of restoration work on the temple.
“Well, it would not depend on a meeting, it would depend on how quickly the work that has to be done on the church of Santa Librada de Las Tablas is resumed” [Translated from Spanish]
Timeline and Next Steps for 2027 Celebration
The October 9 earthquake that damaged the church tower has introduced uncertainty into planning for one of Panama’s most anticipated annual events. The Las Tablas carnival typically requires months of preparation, including costume design, float construction, and musical rehearsals by both tunas. Any delay in confirming the event’s status could compress that timeline significantly.
Herrera’s commitment to backing the board’s decision provides organizers with a clear signal that municipal resources will be available if needed. But the church tower’s condition presents a physical obstacle that no administrative decree can resolve. Wednesday’s technical meeting will likely offer the first concrete assessment of whether repairs can be completed in time for the 2027 festivities.
The coming weeks will be decisive as the organizing board weighs structural safety concerns against the cultural and economic importance of the celebration. For now, the municipality has placed the decision squarely with the board while promising full institutional support for whatever path forward emerges.