The
23rd FECC Convention has been hailed as a great success. This annual
congress was the organization's first trip to Portugal and for most
participants their first trip ever to the country which figures so prominently
in world history as the catalyst which opened the doors to multi-cultural
exchanges through scientific breakthroughs in ocean navigation and the
valor of its people as explorers of the unknown. Our host City, OVAR,
is a small town with a Carnaval known throughout the country for its
robust creativity and dedicated youthful spirit. Ovar is just south
of the great city of Porto (Oporto) where many believe European civilization
began at the foot of the Douro river and is today claiming its place
as a must see destination for any seasoned European traveler.
The
pre-Lenten Ovar Carnaval parade borrows freely from festival arts everywhere
to put on four shows each year which lifts the parade art form to new
levels. Disciplined yet wild, with a vibrant youthful spirit quick to
borrow yet informed by deep traditions. The Ovar Carnaval Foundation
Board and the visionary Ovar
Mayor Armando França, (President of City Hall) now
wish to put Ovar Carnaval on the international map.
 |
| All potential
Queens hope to be paired with the charming talented singer musician
Manuel Russo
who is Ovar
Carnaval's best known personality |
| Click foto
to go to FECC section in our image server |
OVAR
CARNAVAL COUNTDOWN:
Carnaval season begins 3 weeks before Carnaval Tuesday on Sunday afternoon
when the King and Queen arrive. The King and Queen have been
chosen as a couple by a jury of groups. The Kids parade the
Sunday before Carnaval is the only free parade and features the smaller
versions of many spectacular handmade costumes from the adult groups.
As one of Europe's most Catholic countries this is truly a
pre-Lenten Carnival
4 DAYS OF CARNAVAL
 |
| Marados promises yet another
spectacular innovation in 2004 following their spectacular victory
in 2003 starring a crowd teasing teeter totter and the extraordinary
2002 mad max roller (reviravolta) |
| Click photo to go to Portugal
section in our image server |
Samba Parade is Carnaval
Saturday night and usually starts at 9PM. Carnaval Sunday
features the Grand Parade during the day. For those who love the spirit
of Carnaval but not parades, the best time is Carnaval Monday
when the City is shutdown to Cars and everyone comes out for a good
time in costume. There's stages and a costume contest and its time
to greet old friends and make new ones. Carnaval Tuesday features
the 4th and last moments to let loose with the Carnaval before Lent
which is taken very seriously in Ovar and features many processions
as well.
There are 3 types of Ovar Carnaval groups:
Samba schools: with wings of dancers, floats and percussion baterias
all advancing the theme or story in the well known Brazilian tradition
which never fails to excite.
Passarele: Fantastic costumes and well rehearsed choreography
combine with familiar recorded songs can result in the crowd singing
along as well as cheering the large productions who also have clever
self-made floats.
Carnavelescos: Favor crowd interaction, wonder and laughter.
Here parade aficionados can discover sights never seen anywhere else.
Ovar uses competition to spur higher levels of the arts and the competition
here is the keenest. Still the talent is determined to top itself
each year. where much of Ovar's greatest talent has settled in. The
music is often very original |