OVERHEARD: Is Fiesta Carnival giving way to a new plaza?

Alleged video and site mockup hint at a different future for the Cubao property.

A new outdoor commercial plaza may replace Fiesta Carnival in Cubao, Quezon City, despite previous assurances that the beloved indoor amusement park would not close permanently.

A screenshot of an alleged unlisted YouTube video shows a mockup of the planned plaza on the site of the former Fiesta Carnival, in front of the Araneta Coliseum. The video was supposedly uploaded by the official Araneta City channel and titled “ARANETA GROUP | The Legacy Lives On.”

Marites Gonzaga, who claims to be affiliated with the Araneta Archives, described the development as an “open-air lifestyle and dining destination.”

She referred to the proposed development as “Plaza Central,” which will reportedly include landscaped green spaces, open park courtyards, scenic walking paths, and a flagship food hub.

“Even better, this lush urban oasis is designed for ultimate pedestrian convenience, seamlessly connecting Gateway Mall 1, Gateway Mall 2, the Smart Araneta Coliseum, and surrounding walkways into one massive, easily walkable, and deeply refreshing district upgrade that you will absolutely love to explore,” she said in a Facebook post on October 25.

Other signs also point to a potential restructuring of surrounding Araneta City developments.

Coliseum Plaza opened in 2023, featuring a row of upscale restaurants connecting Gateway Mall 2 to the Red Gate entrance of Araneta Coliseum.

Araneta City began referring to the area as “Red Gate Plaza” on its social media pages in September, potentially hinting at plans for additional plazas.

Around the same time, netizens began spotting a tarpaulin around the now-empty Fiesta Carnival lot bearing a mockup of the proposed development.

The image on the tarpaulin depicts an open-air plaza lined with restaurants, similar to the one shown in the alleged unlisted YouTube video. However, the two images differ in key details, including the surrounding structures. The tarpaulin image depicts posters and advertisements surrounding the plaza, while the YouTube screenshot shows LED screens in the planned development.

Amid excitement surrounding the potential new development in Araneta City, these clues have cast fresh uncertainty over the fate of Fiesta Carnival.

The indoor amusement park temporarily closed on February 2 for what it described as “upcoming renovations,” assuring visitors that the establishment was not leaving for good.

“We’re taking this time to improve the space and make things even more fun and comfortable for everyone. This isn’t goodbye—just a short pause while we work on making the carnival better for you,” read a statement from Fiesta Carnival on January 25.

Fiesta Carnival first opened in 1971 with a range of carnival games and rides for families across Metro Manila. The attraction closed in the 2000s, with grocery chain Shopwise taking over the building. Fiesta Carnival reopened in 2023 as demand for leisure activities surged after the COVID-19 pandemic.

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