Events in Tenerife

Tenerife is a hive of activity and events to suit all tastes and budgets.  There is such a huge range of things happening on the island it would be impossible to list them all here, so please do let us know (you can send a “General Enquiry” from this website) if there is something specific you are interested in and we will endeavour to get more information for you.

Tenerife is more than sand and sea

One thing we will list here is some of the fabulous events that the Auditorio de Tenerife put on, they have an excellent range from pop, rock, jazz and classical music performance sometime Spanish Nationals and sometimes world famous performers.  The various dance genres are also well represented.  The Auditorio is a stunning bird shaped building in Santa Cruz.  If you would like more information on any event or would like us to obtain tickets to an event please let us know.

Forthcoming Events

There are several village and town Fiestas celebrating patron saints held in different locations throughout the year, we will not mention all of them as there are many other events to cover as well, we will note the main ones though.

Annual Events in Tenerife

Most annual events are Festival or Fiesta related and we mention the main ones here, as other general events are announced for 2008 we will update this list.

January

Epiphany (6th) is celebrated in most villages and towns with the “Three Kings” parade where three men dress as the “Kings” and distribute sweets to children during the procession. Other events will be added as they are announced.

February

31 January - 9 February  2008 - We have mentioned Carnival on each of the relevant destinations but the Carnival in Tenerife is said to be second only to that of Rio. Gorgeous girls, stunning costumes, marching bands , music and happy mayhem. Though tied to Easter celebrations elsewhere there is nothing at all religious about this month-long party.
Each year a different theme is chosen and the carnival kicks off with the presentation of the Carnival Queen Contestants. Days of band and murga (comedic folk singers) contests and concerts follow and culminate in the Grand Parade. Though the Grand Parade is really the highlight of the Carnival season, more events follow. Festivities focus on Santa Cruz to begin with but gradually spread out to other areas as each town and village celebrates its own fiesta.
The floats, fabulous costumes and dancing troupes of the Grand Parade are certainly spectacular but Carnival is very much a spectator sport. Think Halloween and go as your favourite celebrity, cartoon character or vegetable. Anything goes!
The last event of Tenerife's annual carnival is Entierro de La Sardina (Burial of the Sardine) which takes places in Güimar. A tongue-in-cheek parade, with townsfolk decked out in black to mark the passing of the spirit of the carnival and seven witches which by the end of the parade have metamorphosed into donkeys... (Really!) A spectacular fireworks display closes the day.

March

Events are yet to be announced, though there are fiestas in different locations on the island.

April

Easter celebrations are still to be confirmed for Tenerife.

May

The last Sunday in May sees the Pilgrimage of San Isidro, it is an offering by country folk to their patron saint and is a parade of floats with flowers, farm equipment and other farm/rural related items.  Following the parade there is a livestock exhibition and an opportunity to visit typical stalls and try local specialities such as sardines and the Canarian potatoes. Balconies are decorated with carpets, tablecloths and shawls.

June

Corpus Christi is celebrated everywhere – but the towns of La Laguna and La Orotava have developed a reputation as rivals in the floral tapestries.  These really are works of art, lining the streets they are made up of 100,000 flowers and months of planning only to be crushed and trampled underfoot by the Corpus Christi procession.

July

Another fiesta this time celebrating San Benito Abad in La Laguna. This more an urban fiesta than a rural one with prizes awarded for floats and balcony decorations singing competitions.  The cortege of the pilgrimage is made up of seven young women in the typical costume of each of the islands, their “offering” is of fruit and flowers and they are accompanied by floats and song and dance bands through the streets. This has become a popular fiesta.

August

15 August is an important day in all Catholic countries – and here is no exception.  The Pilgrimage to to Candelaria for many starts the night before this is a very religious event but once mass has been held there is a procession and the traditional floral offering to the “Virgin” Nuestra Senora de Candelaria, takes place in the afternoon with folklore groups taking part.

The San Roque Pilgrimage, Garachico, is one of the most traditional fiestas on the island and originates from the 17th century after an outbreak of the plague which started in Garachico, a religious service is held in the town centre and then in the afternoon the festivities begin.  Goats and other animals are festively “dressed” and carnival style music and dance groups are all part of the returning of the figure of the Saint to church after the service.  At the same time Garachico fishermen have a sea going procession. 2008 date to be confirmed.

We will add more information for September 2008 onwards as it becomes available.