uniguides lanzarote

Main Local Festivities

January

Kings Day Parade

5th January. A parade with typical floats held in all Spanish cities.The largest is in Arrecife, but is also organized in all the resorts and some towns. The 3 Kings are mounted on camels and travel through the main streets.

February - March

Carnaval

Held between February and March in almost all villages of the island on different dates depending on the date on which Easter is celebrated.

Its celebration originally took place three days before Lent. Deeply rooted in the Canary Islands, creativity is shown in the design of the costumes, floats, masks and musical troupes filling the municipalities with light, colour and carnaval cheer. It is celebrated in all of them at different times.

The capital hosts the first Carnival and the last is celebrated in the Municipality of Yaiza. One of the main events is the election of the Carnival Queen in different versions, Junior, Adult and Drag Queen. The big day is Monday with the celebration of the Big Parade of Floats, and Shrove Tuesday is a Public holiday on the Island.

May

Ironman

The second most important Ironman of the world, held in Puerto del Carmen where triathletes from around the world participate to qualify for the race in Hawaii. This is a triathlon which consists of a 3.86 km swim, a 180.2 km bike race and a 42.195 km marathon.

Canary Islands Day

This is celebrated in the Canary Islands on May 30th, anniversary of the first time the Parliament of the Canary Islands met (May 30, 1983). The Statute of Autonomy of the Canary Islands was published on August 10, 1982 in which greater self government was recognised for the archipelago. During some days but mainly the 30th and 31st celebrations take place in all the villages and towns of the Canary Islands with demonstrations of canarian cuture: gastronomy, music, sports, handcraft, history...

Day of the Cross

Municipality of Teguise. It is celebrated on May 3. La Villa de Teguise has a set of 14 wooden crosses spread throughout the historic streets and houses in the center of Teguise that represent each stage of The Passion and Christ´s Resurrection. Its origins are due to the Franciscan order, the leading advocate of this devotion and charged with spreading the Christian faith in Lanzarote from the fifteenth century.

The most important act of this celebration is the adornment of the crosses with flowers.

June

Corpus Christi

One of the most important of the Islands Festivals. In the Canary Islands it is a tradition to lay out beautiful carpets made from flowers in front of the churches, but as in Lanzarote the rains are scarce, it is unusual to find flowers, which is why the inhabitants of the island make the carpets from salt dyed in different colours, which are as beautiful as if they were carpets of flowers. This is a unique custom of this Island.

San Juan

Marks the beginning of summer and is celebrated on 23 and 24 June. It is traditional to celebrate San Juan with grilled corn cobs and large bonfires throughout the island, although those in Haria are the most famous. This event is linked with some rites of pre­-Hispanic culture related to crops.

Festival "Virgen del Carmen"

This is celebrated in July in several coastal towns on the island in honour of the Virgen del Carmen. During the ceremony a procession carries a statue of the Virgin through the streets before being taken aboard a fishing boat in the harbour. The most important celebration takes place in Puerto del Carmen where during two weeks locals and visitors enjoy a massive festival with parades, food tastings and various musical and theatrical events are held. There are firework displays at night.

August

San Ginés

The 25th Of August. The Festivities in honor of San Ginés is one of the most traditional and participatory festivals celebrated on the island. They were declared of National Tourist Interest in 1965. It is celebrated in the capital, Arrecife, during the second week of August in honour of the patron saint, San Ginés. It consists of thirteen days of celebrations, where locals and visitors enjoy a massive festival with parades, food tastings and various musical and theatrical events are held. There are firework displays at night.

September

Festival "Virgen de los Dolores"

Mid-September. Our Lady of Sorrows, Patroness of Lanzarote, also known as the Virgin of the Volcanoes. The most important event of this festival is the pilgrimage which takes place on the Saturday before the day of the patroness. The origins of this pilgrimage date back to 1736, when, according to legend,with the intercession of the Virgin the volcanic eruptions of Timanfaya ceased. The Chapel of Mancha Blanca stands at the edge of the lava flow, where the lava actually stopped. From early morning thousands of walkers head towards the village to honour the Virgin. The festival is one of colour, music, food and devotion, that runs across the spectacular volcanic landscape of Lanzarote. Throughout the night and much of the day entire families dressed in traditional dress make their way on foot to the chapel of Mancha Blanca (Municipality of Tinajo). There is a folk festival and craft fair (with participants from all islands).