{"id":18747,"date":"2026-11-12T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=18747"},"modified":"2026-11-12T09:38:02","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T14:38:02","slug":"carnival-2027-or-not-that-is-the-question-las-tablas-decision-rests-with-organizing-board","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/events-culture\/carnival-2027-or-not-that-is-the-question-las-tablas-decision-rests-with-organizing-board\/","title":{"rendered":"Carnival 2027, or Not? That Is the Question: Las Tablas Decision Rests With Organizing Board"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The fate of the 2027 Las Tablas carnival<\/strong> will be determined by its organizing board, not the municipal government, according to Mayor No\u00e9 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Herrera made the statement Tuesday from Las Tablas<\/a>, Los Santos province<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"SANTA
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. By RicardoAndres39 .<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Municipal Role in Las Tablas Carnival<\/a> Planning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“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]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

La Junta del Carnaval de Las Tablas deber\u00e1 tomar la decisi\u00f3n sobre la realizaci\u00f3n de los carnavales 2027, as\u00ed lo indic\u00f3 el alcalde del distrito, No\u00e9 Herrera.\n\nHay preocupaci\u00f3n debido a los da\u00f1os que presenta la Iglesia de Santa Librada, ubicada frente al Parque Porras. https:\/\/t.co\/xAzMw8wmZE<\/p>— Telemetro Reporta (@TReporta) November 11, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>\n