The Guantánamo Children’s Carnival 2025, scheduled for this Sunday, has been canceled and rescheduled for August 12—International Youth Day and Students’ Day—following an electrical accident at the intersection of Paseo and Los Maceo, which caused concern among attendees.
According to reports from the newspaper Venceremos and a post on by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, the incident occurred while the folkloric structure "La Cecilita" was parading, one of the highlights of the event.
Witnesses reported that the power lines experienced a failure that caused sparks and a sudden power outage, prompting an immediate halt to activities to prevent greater risks. Videos circulating on social media show the panic that spread among attendees.
Although local authorities state that "the causes are being investigated," the incident has once again highlighted the deterioration of the city's electrical infrastructure and the lack of prevention in organizing large-scale events.
The celebration took place amidst a context characterized by frequent power outages and aging infrastructure, making such an incident predictable for many residents.
In the images circulated on social media, children, parents, and bystanders can be seen evacuating the area, while police and military personnel secured the zone. Some attendees, clearly worried, were carrying chairs and belongings to leave the site.
The official decision to postpone the parade was justified as a safety measure for "the little ones at home." However, there has been criticism regarding the improvisation and the lack of prior inspections that could have identified potential issues before the event.
The new parade, scheduled for August 12, will maintain its artistic programming and the participation of groups, floats, and children's ensembles, but it will be marked by the challenge of regaining the public's trust after an incident that could have had more serious consequences.
This incident adds to other issues that have affected public celebrations in various Cuban provinces, where the energy crisis and the lack of basic services have forced modifications or suspensions of activities.
In July 2025, the Carnival of Santiago de Cuba had to shorten its hours and limit its activities to 10:00 p.m. to reduce electricity consumption due to the worsening generation deficit.
At the beginning of August, in Bayamo, the so-called "popular festivals" were criticized for being held amidst prolonged blackouts and food shortages, while in 2024, in Santiago de Cuba, a blackout affected the Sur Children’s Hospital just days after the waste of electricity during the carnival, highlighting the lack of priorities in energy usage.
In Guantánamo, the expectation is that the Children's Carnival can be celebrated without new setbacks, although concerns persist about the technical conditions surrounding this type of celebration.
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