Mayors discuss changes to Liberation Carnival facilities

by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - No alcohol at the carnival? What about a parade at sunset? These are just some of the ideas the Mayors Council of Guam is considering for this year's liberation festivities.

The 2013 Liberation Carnival isn't until two months from now, but the island's mayors are already hard at work to make this year's festivities bigger and better than the year before. "I've been hearing a lot of talk and a lot of hype about the carnival again this year," stressed Council executive director Angel Sablan, who says they opened up the bids Monday night to potential vendors and believes this year will be a record year as far as in come for the Liberation Carnival.

"The games of skill, the different games for kids and adults that always has a lot of vendors because different people can put up certain props or props from years and coming in second were games of chance, but we're very pleased of the outcome," he said.

Based solely on the 25% deposit needed for the bid process, the mayors have already collected over $250,000. However, some categories didn't fare as well. "The only thing we didn't get a bid on surprisingly was the alcohol so we may make it a decision to make it an alcohol free zone carnival, you never know," Sablan added.

But the festivities don't stop with the carnival as the mayors are also looking at some changes for the parade, as well. Sablan says because July 21 falls on a Sunday with the holiday the following day, they're looking at possibly making the yearly tradition a sunset parade. "We want to give people an opportunity to go to mass or their own faith and have an overnight thing for our campers and leave on Monday the holiday and have that sunset parade when the last float and queen come in, we'll have the fireworks," he said.

He adds other ideas being considered are bringing back the ferris wheel and more rides. In fact, just this morning, a vendor proposed adding a zip line at this year's carnival. Bid documents are still be reviewed and certified with the final winning bids to be announced later this week.

The Liberation Carnival is set to begin May 20.