The Official Program for the 2015 Carnaval in Oruro, Bolivia
Carnaval time in Bolivia is marked by parades, folkloric characters and dances, beer and chichi, water games, and festive crowds. The flavor changes with the location, however: there’s the Carnaval de Antaño (Carnival of Yesteryear) in Sucre, which recreates the colonial and republican era, and the Carnaval Grande in the same town; there’s the Carnaval Minero (Miners’ Carnival) in Potosí, and the Carnaval Paceño (La Paz Carnival), where one must continually duck water and foam attacks while watching the endless lines of dancers. Which is the most famous of the Bolivian Carnavals? The Oruro Carnaval is known worldwide, and was declared by UNESCO a Masterpiece of Oral & Intangible Heritage of Humanity for its impressive mix of religious Spanish and indigenous Andean traditions.
The main days of the 2015 Oruro Carnival will take place on February 12th through 15th, although convite parties will begin in the weeks prior. During this time, the city of Oruro receives thousands of visitors, who opt to stay in hotels, hostels, and rented rooms in family homes. It’s best to plan ahead if you want to stay in town, although crowds will be bused from and to La Paz on these main days.
Saturday, Feb 7th: Festival of the Bands, 
from 9am on at the Plaza Cívica, by Socavón Sanctuary
Sunday, Feb 8th: Final Convite Party, from 6:30am on Potosí, at the corner of Aroma
This is the final convite before the majestic Entrance of the Oruro Carnval, constituting the final practice before the 48 folkloric groups parade through the streets of the city.
Thursday, Feb 12th: The Anata Andina Indigenous Entrada, from 8:30am along the Carnaval route
The Anata Andina celebration comes from a rural agricultural celebration celebrating the abundance that the rainy season brings. Participants carry flowers and agricultural goods. It takes place two days before the Oruro Carnival, with somewhere around a hundred groups which arrive in Oruro from the countryside. Dancers highlight unique indigenous music and dance.
Friday, Feb 13th: Convite Party for El Tío & the Challa, in the San Jose Mines
The miners will perform the Challa ceremony, giving offerings to the Pachamama earth deity, and throw a convite party for Tío, the Uncle. He’s the diabolical saint of the underworld of the mines, whose statue is present in almost all of the tunnels and receives offerings. It ends with a nighttime party, with plenty of folkloric dancing, along the carnaval route. Upon daybreak the following day, they will gather to serenade to the Virgin of Socavón in the main square (called 10 de Febrero).
Saturday, Feb 14th: Pilgrimage to
Socavón Sanctuary/Folkloric Entrance (Main Day of Carnaval), from 7:00am on Potosí, at the corner of Aroma
48 different folkloric groups take part in the Entrance, dressed in the colorful costumes that are specific to different dances and cultural traditions.
Sunday, Feb 15th: Entrance of the Oruro Carnaval Parade, from 7:00am on Potosí, at the corner of Aroma, and around Socavón Sanctuary.
The main parade follows a 40-block route
along the main streets of Oruro, passing through the main square, known as Plaza 10 de Febrero. Thousands of dancers and musicians participate, and it lasts for more than 15 hours. You can simply head to the city center and set up your viewpoint along the crowds.
The most common traditional Bolivian dances that you will see include:
The Diablada: dance characterized by the intricate devil mask and suit
The Morenada: a dance mixing African and Indigenous elements, referencing the slaves who worked in the mines
Caporales: dancers take on the character of the mixed-race overseer of black slaves
The Suri Sicuris: Andean panpipers with ostrich feather crowns
The Waka Waka: parody of the bullfights that the Spanish colonists enjoyed
(If you’d like a more specific route, the parade will mainly travel along Calle Bolívar deviating to include Calle Pagador, and Aroma until reaching 6 de Agosto, at which point it will return to Calle Bolívar until La Plata, head along Adolfo Mier and Presidente Montes, then return once again to Calle Bolívar until La Petot, head along Adolfo Mier, Avenida Cívica “Sanjinés Vincentti”, and Junín. It will end at Socavón Sanctuary.)
Monday, Feb 16th: Day of the Devil and of 
the Moreno, at the Virgin of Socavón
Farewell performance of the dancers, in front of the Virgin of Socavón. Choreographed dances and open-air parties around the city of Oruro.
Tuesday, Feb 17th: Traditional Challa in different neighborhoods of Oruro