The tope in Palmares was a bit disappointing this year in that there were noticeably fewer people both in the parade and in the crowd of spectators. The lowered attendance affected the public and horsemen. Additionally, those selling souvenirs reported extremely low sales.
One reason for this low involvement is that changes were made to create a more family atmosphere, discouraging those who wanted to come to party. Another cause for the lowered interest is that the tope in Santa Cruz happened the same day. There was an accident that caused many to arrive late so the start hour was moved back.
This isn’t all bad news, though. The tope also had noticeably more peace. It was very unlike recent years which were full of crime and violence. The atmosphere was much nicer for families. Visitors found it easier to find parking, bathrooms, and food and drinks. Additionally, Senasa reported that this year it did not have to respond to any issues of animal abuse.
