The Tenerife Carnival, considered one of the best carnivals in the world and the world’s second largest, will be dedicated to New York in this year’s edition. Declared a ‘Festival of International Tourist Interest’, the Tenerife Carnival is expected to welcome thousands of travellers to Santa Cruz, the island’s capital city, from 17thJanuary, when it will officially kick off.
Carnival contests and galas
The Tenerife Carnival consists of two parts: the contests and the street parties. A wide variety of contests – including “murga” street music groups and “comparsa” bands – will take place in Santa Cruz’s fairgrounds, which will also host the ever-popular Carnival Queen Election Gala on 15th February. On that night, more than a dozen candidates will compete with their spectacular costumes made of feathers, plastic, metal, rhinestones and glitter. The candidate with the most beautiful costume, according to an expert jury, will be crowned as Carnival Queen.
Key nights and days to enjoy the festival
Street parties will begin on 17th February with the Opening Parade of the Carnival. Presided over by the Carnival Queen, a wide variety of floats, decorated cars and music groups will parade through the main streets of Santa Cruz. Great spots to see the Opening Parade are Méndez Núñez Street, Pilar Street and Villalba Hervás Street. Late at night, those and others areas will become improvised dance stages where locals and visitors alike can make the most of the night party – wearing a costume is essential.
Street parties are very popular on the nights of both Friday 17th and Saturday 18th February. On Saturday evening, one of the carnival’s most popular contests of “comparsa” bands, called “Ritmo y Armonía”, will take place. The participating dance groups will show their colourful choreographies to the sound of drums. This will be held on Avenida Francisco La Roche and is completely free.
From 1pm on Sunday 19th February, the Day Carnival will kick off – a full day dedicated to both adults and children alike. For this reason, it’s very popular to see entire families wearing original fancy dresses. Plaza del Príncipe and the Plaza de la Candelaria are the best places to go with the youngest members of the family for a day of fun.
Shrove Monday will take place on 20th February – another popular night out for festivalgoers, who will enjoy the various street parties until the early hours of the morning. Shrove Tuesday will welcome the Coso Apoteosis parade; arguably the highlight of the entire Tenerife Carnival festivities – a parade joined by the Carnival Queen and maids of honour and all “murga” and “comparsa” street music groups. The night will end with a colourful fireworks display, which, in principle, will bring the carnival to an end.
The burial of the sardine and the Piñata weekend
However, nothing could be further from the truth. The Tenerife Carnival will still have a lot to offer after the “Coso Apoteosis” parade. On the night of Wednesday 22nd February, the “Burial of the Sardine” will take place. This is a humorous and grotesque procession where locals mourn the “death” of the carnival – staged in the form of a sardine, in honour of the fishing origins of Santa Cruz.
The definitive “farewell” to the carnival will take place during the following weekend: Friday 24th, Saturday 25th(return of the Day Carnival) and Sunday 26th February (Piñata Sunday). On this day, a final pyrotechnic display will say goodbye to the festival until 2024.
Where to stay
The best option to make the most of the Carnival events without having to worry about travelling is to stay in Santa Cruz, Tenerife’s capital city. Hotel Emblemático Hi Suites, Urban Anaga and Hotel Príncipe Paz are all located right in the centre of the carnival action. Other hotels not right in the centre of town but close to it are Silken Atlántida, Occidental Santa Cruz Contemporáneo and the legendary five-star Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey.
Where to eat and drink
A variety of street stalls will pop up across the city over the carnival period. However, for a local taste of the island’s gastronomy, visitors should head to Calle de la Noria, Calle Clavel and Plaza de San Francisco. Those interested in having a drink in a relaxed atmosphere should consider one of the city’s rooftop bars or beach clubs in the nearby Teresitas beach.
Other carnivals in Tenerife
Although Santa Cruz hosts the most popular carnival on the island, there are other towns whose festivities are also worth seeing– including Puerto de la Cruz, in the north, and Arona, in the south. The common denominator of all carnivals is the weather – pleasant temperatures averaging 20 degrees Celsius in the middle of winter. Who’s in?
For further information about Tenerife, please visit: www.webtenerife.co.uk
