The spring edition of the Pa’Cuba Festival began this Friday at the Pabellón Cuba in the Havana neighborhood of Vedado, amidst a serious energy crisis that has left much of the country facing prolonged blackouts.
The event, which will take place every weekend until April 26, offers family recreational activities, performances, gastronomy, and a trade fair.
The announced hours are Friday from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Saturday from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
The organizers acknowledged on social media that this edition had to be moved from its usual venue at Pabexpo due to the country's energy conditions.
They explained that the fairgrounds rely heavily on artificial lighting, air conditioning, and other electrical systems, while the Pabellón Cuba, having open areas, allows for better use of natural light and ventilation.
They indicated that the change aims to adapt the festival to a "smaller" format that is more suited to the current context, with the goal of keeping the event alive despite the limitations.
The start of the festival coincides with one of the most critical moments for the Cuban electrical system in recent months.
For this Friday, the Electric Union (UNE) forecasted blackouts that could exceed 1,800 MW during peak nighttime hours, with an estimated availability of 1,198 MW against a demand of up to 3,000 MW.
During the early hours of the morning, service interruptions were already occurring in wide areas of the country, as the system struggles with multiple breakdowns and maintenance issues at thermoelectric plants such as Mariel, Santa Cruz del Norte, Cienfuegos, Felton, and Santiago de Cuba.
Neighbors in the Rampa area commented on social media that nearby neighborhoods are already experiencing power outages, while the area around Pabellón Cuba continued to have service, which sparked criticism amidst social discontent over the blackouts.
In recent days, there have been reports of pot-banging protests in various neighborhoods of Havana, including Mantilla, El Cotorro, El Cerro, and Nuevo Vedado, where residents have taken to the streets to express their frustration over prolonged power outages and the deterioration of basic services.
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