After strong opposition from various sectors to the national carnival and the government’s subsequent retreat, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé abandoned plans for a 2025 carnival organized by the central government. In response, several provincial cities held their own scaled-down versions of the festivities during the Mardi Gras period.

In the streets of Fort-Liberté, Jacmel, Les Cayes, Jérémie, and other towns, music, vibrant colors, costumes, and significant popular participation marked both the pre-carnival Sundays and the three official days of celebrations. Even Port-au-Prince found ways to celebrate—though mainly in private clubs—while the municipality held discussions on the event’s future. Across the country, people still enjoyed the public holidays and Ash Wednesday as a day off.