• Submitted by: manso
• Society
• 08 / 11 / 2011

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2011.08.10 - 16:52:17 / radiorebelde.icrt.cu. Havana, Cuba.- Summertime festivities kicked off in Havana right when the city’s inhabitants and visitors heard the boom of the traditional cannon shot at nine sharp of Monday night.

Police mobile unites headed the parade along the seawall of Havana performing synchronized turns and acrobatics, followed by a fleet vintage cars that were tailed by floats and carnival dancers.

Fiesta en mi Habana (Fiesta in the Havana of Mine) is the name given to this year’s summertime festivities which organizers have described as a social-cultural project.

Artistic Director Orestes Vasallo said there will be parades of floats and traditional and contemporary dance and musical groups every night through August 14.

A dancer from the University of Havana’s group said he and his friends were proud of being members of the Federation of University Student’s carnival dance group which has participated in the festivities for 50 years now.

Kiosks and stands selling food and beverages can be found on both sides of the street by the seawall, which has been embellished with lights and big masks tied to lampposts down the road.

The opening evening was crowned by a rain of fireworks in La Piragua square, next to the Hotel Nacional.(ACN)