30.01.2010 - The best and biggest fun to be had is in Santa Cruz and Las Palmas where three weeks of partying is already under way.  The organised fun is to be had with concerts from Murgas groups who sing satirical songs about current affairs and politics, and singing and dancing groups.  There are also processions, and of course galas for the election of the adult, senior and infant Carnaval queens and some towns such as Las Palmas, Playa del Inglés and Puerto de la Cruz stage a series of events aimed at the gay community including a drag queen contest. And most evenings in the major cities the streets will be thronged with people in all sorts of costumes, danc­ing, partying and generally revelling until the wee hours.

As Lent begins just as Carnaval ends in essence this is the storm before the religious calm, a time for the ridiculous, the unexpect­ed, and if you attend any of the evening street parties you will feel completely out of place if you don’t dress up.  Don’t worry too much about conforming with the chosen theme.  Wear what you like as long as it’s fun.  

The ritual of the Burial of the Sardine marks the end of the Carnaval.  Much work goes into the creation of the huge papier-mache fish which is towed around the town in procession followed by an entourage of weeping widows who are not always all that they seem.  At the end of the procession, there is a fireworks display during which the sardine is set alight, and this is followed by the widows’ ball.

Santa Cruz
Tenerife:
Theme: The history of Carnaval
All events take place at the Recinto Ferial unless otherwise stated.
January 27, 7 pm, 1st phase, Children’s Murgas
January 28, 7 pm, 2nd phase, Children’s Murgas
January 29, 7 pm, 3rd phase, Children’s Murgas
January 29, 8 pm, Musical Groups Contest
January 31, 5 pm, Gala for the election of the Infant Queen
February 1, 9 pm, 1st phase Adult Murgas
February 2, 9 pm, 2nd phase Adult Murgas
February 3, 9 pm, 3rd phase Adult Murgas
February 4, 5 pm, Gala for the election of the Senior Queen
February 5, 8.30 pm, Gala, Adult Murgas finals (Port area)
February 6, 8 pm, Music and dancing groups contest
February 7, 11 am, Adults’ and children’s fancy dress contest
February 7, 5 pm, Choreographic festival
February 9, 8.30 pm, Concert by musical group Los Fregolinos (Salón de Actos, CajaCanarias)
February 10, 9.30 pm, Grand Gala for the election of the Carnaval Queen
February 11, 9 pm, Contest: Canción de la Risa
February 12, 7 pm, Opening Carnaval procession, from Avenida de Bélgica through the city to Avenida de Francisco La Roche, followed by a fireworks display.
February 12, 8 pm, Carnaval float and decorated vehicles contest
February 13, 8 pm, Rhythm and harmony dancing groups contest in Avenida de Francisco La Roche, and mini-procession from Plaza de Weyler to la Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena
February 14, 11 am, performance by Ni Fú, Ni Fa, 12 noon Los Fregolinos, Plaza del Principe
February 14, 5 pm, Rondallas contest, Auditorio de Tenerife, followed by a Rondallas procession through Avenida de Francisco La Roche
February 14, 8 pm, mini procession from Plaza de Weyler to la Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena
February 14, 10 pm, St Valentine’s Day special, Plaza del Principe
February 15, 8 pm, mini procession from Plaza de Weyler to la Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena
February 16, 11 am, Performance by Ni Fú – Ni Fa, Plaza del Príncipe
February 16, 12 noon, Performance by Los Fregolinos, Plaza del Príncipe
February 16, 4 pm, Main Carnaval Procession through Avenidas de Francisco La Roche, de José Antonio and Marítima
February 16, 9 pm, Grand Fireworks Display
February 17, 9 pm, Burial of the Sardine, procession from calle Juan Pablo II to Avenida Francisco La Roche, followed by a grand fireworks display
February 18, 8.30 pm, Rondallas festival, Salon de Actos, CajaCanarias
February 18, 8.30 pm, Festival of the lyrical group La Zarzuela of the Círculo de Amistad XII de Enero, Auditorio de Tenerife
February 20, 1 pm, Daytime Carnaval
February 20, 5 pm, Daytime Murgas
February 20, 6 pm, Children’s procession through Avenidas de Anaga and Marítima, ending at la Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena
February 21, 10 am,XXXIX Grand Vintage Cars contest, Plaza de la Iglesia-Calle La Noria. From 12 noon, the cars will be driven from calle Antonio Domínguez Alfonso to the  Hotel Mencey in the Rambla
February 21, 11 am, Performance by Ni Fú – Ni Fa, Plaza del Príncipe
February 21, 12.30 pm, performance by the lyrical group La Zarzuela of the Círculo de Amistad XII de Enero, Plaza del Príncipe
February 21, 5 pm, Grand end of Carnaval party, Círculo de Amistad XII de Enero
February 21, 9.30 pm, Grand Fireworks Display, Avenida Marítima
February 12 to 21, live performances from 5.30 pm and dancing to live bands at night in the Plazas del Príncipe, Europa and La Candelaria

Las Palmas
Gran Canaria
Theme:  Television
All events in the Parque Santa Catalina unless otherwise specified
January 29, 9 pm, Carnaval groups parade, followed by opening speech
January 30, 8.30 pm, Murgas contest, final round
January 31, 7.30 pm, Adult dancing groups contest
February 2, 9 pm, Adults fancy dress contest
February 5, 9 pm, Gala for the election of the Carnaval Queen
February 6, 5 pm, Correveydile at Alcaravaneras
February 6, 7 pm, Children’s dancing groups contest
February 6, 11 pm, Latin Night
February 7, 11 am, Children’s fancy dress contest
February 7, 7 pm, Gala for the election of the Infant Carnaval Queen
February 9, 9 pm, Gala for the election of the Senior Carnaval Queen
February 10, 9 pm, Short list of candidates for Drag Queen
February 12, 9 pm, Gala for the election of the Drag Queen
February 13, 5 pm, Grand Carnaval Procession from La Isleta to Triana
February 13, 11 pm, Revival Night
February 14, 12 noon, Canine Carnaval
February 14, 7 pm, Choreographic contest
February 15, 5 pm, Children’s procession from Castillo de La Luz to Parque Santa Catalina
February 15, 7 pm, Children’s party
February 15, 11 pm, Traditional Carnaval procession, Triana
February 16, 12 noon, Sunny Carnaval, Carnaval groups parade through the streets
February 16, 9 pm, Body make-up contest
February 17, 7 pm, Social integration gala
February 19, 9 pm, Vigil over the dead sardine, Paseo de Las Canteras, c/Tomás Miller, c/Ripoche, Parque Santa Catalina
February 20, 6 pm, The Burial of the Sardine and Widows’ Ball, c/Venegas to Playa de Las Canteras
*The Maspalomas Carnaval takes place between March 11 and 21, under the theme of Eurovision.  We will publish a full programme of events in a future edition.

Puerto de la Cruz
Theme:  Land of Volcanoes
February 7, Gala for the election of the Infant Queen
February 11, Gala for the election of the Carnaval Queen
February 13, Opening procession
February 16, Exhibition of classic and vintage cars
February 17, Burial of the Sardine
February 19, Masculine Marathon, fancy dress and high heels
February 20, Grand Carnaval procession

Indianos
La Palma Carnival planes full
Regional airlines Binter and Islas Airways say seats on the extra planes being laid on to ferry people across to La Palma for the most important day of the island’s Carnival in February are already sold out.
39 flights scheduled from Tenerife North airport in the run-up to the hugely popular ‘Indianos’ celebrations on Carnival Monday are already full and the local organisers expect several thousand Tinerfeños for the event. In recent years, the Indianos fiesta, with the obligatory dress code of white for participants, has become a Mecca for young people from Tenerife and this year will be no exception.
Extra flights laid on from Gran Canaria are also said to be filling up fast, according to the airlines. Accommodation is already at a premium for the week, which is now one of the most expensive in the island’s tourist calendar.   



This article appears in the print edition 609 of Island Connections

Gallery: Have a swinging time

5 pictures found: Go to gallery