Blog
Carnival of Valverde: El Hierro's capital, where the residents build the parade
In Valverde, the residents carry the carnival parade: costumes, floats, decorated cars, and a separate prize for each of them. When El Hierro's capital holds its carnival, what happens on the Friday, the Saturday and the closing day, and how the theme is chosen.
Carnival of San Sebastián de La Gomera: talcum, indigo blue powder and a herring beside the sardine
In San Sebastián de La Gomera, one carnival evening belongs to talcum powder and indigo blue powder, and the sardine is buried in the bay together with a herring. When it usually is, why it has no fixed date, and what happens each day around the Plaza de Las Américas.
Carnival of Puerto del Rosario: Arretrankos, Achipencos and a sardine that is born here too
In Puerto del Rosario, the carnival sardine doesn't just die, it's born here too, and out in the bay the contraptions of the Achipencos regatta compete. When the carnival of Fuerteventura's capital usually happens, and what happens on each day.
Carnival of Arrecife: the sailors of Los Buches, inflated fish stomachs and a sardine on Ash Wednesday
In Arrecife, the big parade is opened by a sailors' parranda in costumes designed by César Manrique, carrying inflated fish stomachs. The carnival lasts about two weeks and ends exactly on Ash Wednesday with the sardine. When it usually is, who Los Buches are, and what not to miss.
Carnival of Santa Cruz de La Palma and Los Indianos: white clothes, talcum powder and a day in Havana
On Carnival Monday, Santa Cruz de La Palma dresses in white, the Plaza de España becomes the Plaza de La Habana for a day, and the air fills with talcum powder. What Los Indianos day celebrates, when it usually is, and what comes before and after it.
Carnival of Maspalomas: a sardine on the beach, a gala for tourists and the season's last parade
In Maspalomas a dying sardine is carried along the beach, and tourists join the procession by the thousand, dressed as doctors and nurses. The carnival is in March, when it's already over in the capitals. When it usually is, what happens in the last week, and what to watch out for.
Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: five weeks, a seven-kilometre parade and a sardine on Las Canteras beach
The Las Palmas de Gran Canaria carnival isn't one week but five or six: it starts in late January or early February and runs for weeks after Ash Wednesday. At the end, a seven-kilometre parade, a drag gala and a sardine on Las Canteras beach. When it usually is, what not to miss.
Carnival of Icod de los Vinos: a wake on the square, a funeral procession towards the Centinela bridge and a wandering Sunday
In Icod de los Vinos the sardine lies in state on the square in the afternoon, then a funeral procession carries it towards the Centinela bridge, and the day ends with the widows' and widowers' dance. When the carnival usually is, why the big parade moves, and what we know for sure.
Carnival of Los Realejos: Señor Rascayú, the Monday Coso and a day in the carnival capital of the north
Every year in Los Realejos a wooden-bodied figure is made, dressed to match the carnival's theme, and at the end a funeral procession sees him off on his final journey. Señor Rascayú, the Monday Coso and a day when the town is the carnival capital of the north: when it usually is.