8 FIESTAS LOCALES EN TENERIFE A LAS QUE DEBES IR UNA VEZ EN LA VIDA

A privileged climate in which we live an eternal spring, fun, nightlife, culture, nature, crystalline beaches… We could enumerate you an endless number of reasons why Tenerife is, for us and for all the people who visit us, the lucky island. The largest of the Canary Islands is also a real paradise in the Atlantic Ocean where, in addition to its beaches (we explained you in a previous post what are, for us, 10 unique paradisique beaches in Tenerife), also highlight its local festivals.

In fact, another incentive to visit the island are its festivals, spread throughout the year and each of them with a particularity. Do you know which are the most important or traditional? In this post we tell you about 8 charming festivities in Tenerife that you must live at least once in your life. 

1. Tenerife Carnival 

And we could not start this list of popular festivals without talking about the festival par excellence of Tenerife: the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, one of the most popular celebrations not only in Spain, but also in the rest of the world. In fact, we could say that our Carnival is the second best known worldwide, only surpassed by the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro (in fact, both cities are twinned). The Tenerife Carnival was also declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest in 1980.

Dates and events of the Tenerife Carnival 

The Tenerife 2019 Carnival was held from the 27th February to the 10th March. However, the Carnival events officially began on February 1st with the inauguration ceremony, which gives way to subsequent events. Among them are the competition for children’s and adults’ murgas or the gala election of the queen of the carnival (children, senior citizens and adults).

And from March 1st, the main course with the parade, a great party in the streets of the city. The Carnival of Tenerife culminates with the traditional Burial of the Sardine. 

2. Festivity of Santa Cruz (Canary Islands Day)

The 30th of May all the Canary Islands celebrate the Day of the Canary Islands. A festivity commemorating the anniversary of the first session of the Parliament of the Canary Islands with headquarters in the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on 30th May 1983.

Dates and events of the Canary Islands Day 

Every 30th of May, the values and identity of the Canary Islands are highlighted through many activities and cultural manifestations, such as folklore, sports events and handicrafts. 

3. Corpus Christi Octave (La Orotava)

The Fiestas Patronales de la Villa de La Orotava (Tenerife) are a festivity that pleases both locals and visitors alike. A festival that began to be celebrated from the seventeenth century on the occasion of Corpus Christi, when neighbors began to make carpets of flowers to receive the procession that every year takes place in the streets of the town. These rugs have, over time, become very important artistic elements. 

Dates and events of the Corpus Christi Octave 

Since 1827, the celebration takes place 60 days after Easter Sunday. Corpus Christi precedes two other very traditional festivities in the area: the pilgrimage of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de la Cabeza.

The Corpus Christi of La Orotava was also declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest in 1980.

4. Fiestas del Carmen – Tenerife 

The celebration in honour of the Virgen del Carmen is another of the traditional festivals in Tenerife and in many cities in the rest of Spain embraced by the sea. Patron saint of the sailors, the Virgen del Carmen brings together a large number of events in which there is a very emotional and significant union between the port and the city.

Dates and events of the Virgen del Carmen 

The festivity of the Virgen del Carmen takes place every 16th of July, the day of the Virgen del Carmen, with different acts that take place the following days. Among them, the most important: the transfer of the Virgen del Carmen to the fishing dock where in the afternoon the boat is made for the later transfer to the Church of Santa Ana. 

5. Hachitos de San Juan – Icod de los Vinos (Tenerife) 

Every year, during the Night of San Juan, the municipality of Tenerife welcomes a tradition that has its origin in the aboriginal time: Los Hachos or “los Hachitos”. Or what is the same: “candelabros” of about 2-3 meters high, made of tea wood and decorated with branches, flowers and ribbons, carry in one of its ends one or several pots where cloths are lit wet in oil. The reason for this festivity: the celebration of the summer solstice.

Dates and events of los Hachos 

As we have said before, this celebration takes place every June 23rd, during the night of San Juan, in Icod de los Vinos. At nightfall the bonfires are lit and a parade begins. The route goes from La Vega to the Amparo, accompanied at all times by the music of the “tajaraste”, music and dance typical of the region.

6. Candlemas Day (Tenerife) 

With a Catholic origin, the Candlemas is a popular festival in honour of the Virgen de la Candelaria, patron saint of the Canary Islands. In fact, it is said that the invocation of the Virgin Mary is of Canarian origin, being here where its apparition took place. The Candlemas, celebrated on August 15th, is considered a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest. 

Dates and events of Candlemas Day 

In Tenerife there are two dates when this celebration takes place: February 2nd (local holiday in Tenerife) and August 15th  (regional holiday in all the Canary Islands). In Candelaria, municipality of Tenerife, takes place the so-called Procession of the Candelas, organized on the night of 1 to 2 February. During this night the lights of the municipality are extinguished while the fire of the candles illuminates the streets, in a very emotional scene. 

7. Fire from the Cliff (Garachico – Tenerife) 

Garachico (Tenerife), year 1706. More than 300 years ago, this small village of Tenerife was totally destroyed by the volcanic eruption of the Trevejo volcano. Far from disappearing, the municipality was reborn. 

That is why, every five years, the village of Garachico remembers that natural disaster with the traditional celebration of the Fire form the Cliff: fireworks and incandescent balls that roll down the hillside and recall an event that changed the history of the town and is also one of the most impressive pyrotechnic exhibitions in the Canary Islands. 

Dates and events of the Fire from the Cliff 

The Festivity of the Fire from the Cliff is celebrated every five years. The last occasion was in 2015, so next year, in 2020, we can once again enjoy a celebration that takes place during the feasts of the Holy Christ of Mercy (between 23rd July and 2nd August).

8. Tablas de San Andrés (Icod de los Vinos – Tenerife) 

The Fiesta de San Andrés is another of the local festivals of Icod de los Vinos, a municipality we have already mentioned. It is a festival that does not have any religious origin despite its name, but rather “rural”, as it arose from the transport of wood from the mountains to the coast to make boats and barrels.
In this celebration, young people and adults slide up on wooden boards along the street “del plano” while the local winemakers uncork the wines from the last harvest.

Dates and events of the Fiesta de las Tablas de San Andrés 

The Fiesta de las Tablas de San Andrés is celebrated on the night of 29th to 30th November, coinciding with the day of San Andrés. 

If you are thinking of visiting the island and enjoying any of our wonderful local Tenerife parties, Adrian Hotels has three hotels. Three different styles but with the same philosophy: the meticulous attention to our guests.

Categories: Uncategorized