Visit The Canary Guide… Events and Happenings on Gran Canaria!
A gorgeous Gran Canaria winter weekend is in sight! This weekend is dedicated to Carnival with multiple celebrations going on simultaneously. So many events to go and enjoy, and on Saturday, it’s the biggest parade day on the Island, the Las Palmas cabalgata, Carnival Parade through the capital, and partying into the night.
This would be also the perfect moment to take a drive up to the mountains to see some of the beautiful blooming almond trees while they are still in blossom.
16-18 February, Las Palmas
Carnival Las Palmas ( the last weekend )
Saturday’s parade and Sunday’s “Funeral” procession will lead to a mass of traffic restrictions
On Friday
at 18:00 Children’s Carnival in La Isleta at Plaza del Pueblo
at 20:30 The Murgas Final at Parque Santa Catalina
at 22:00 Carnival night. Carnival nights are the meeting point for all the street party fun of the fancy dress mascaritas. Plaza de Canarias – at the back of the Santa Catalina park – takes on new life after daytime.
On Saturday,
the Carnival Parade 17:00-01:00. Route: León y Castillo (from the Plaza de la Feria, where the party will start) – Plaza de Manuel Becerra. ( route : Calle León y Castillo, Presidente Alvear, Parque Santa Catalina, Albareda, Juan Rejón, Plaza Manuel Becerra )
at 22:00 Carnival night partying until the early hours
On Sunday
at 19:00-20:30 Burial of the Sardine. The burial of the sardine puts an end to Carnival for another year. The Sardine expires and, each year, carnival widows and mourners accompany the funeral procession that leads through the streets from Leon y Castillo (from Pueblo Canario) to Las Canteras beach. (Calle León y Castillo from Pueblo Canario and CN Metropole, Presidente Alvear, Parque Santa Catalina, Albareda and to playa de Las Canteras )
There, still resisting having to leave the party, the fancy dress mascaritas give their last goodbye to the “clupeido” in a symbolic cremation which represents purification once again after the weeks of the debauched transgressions that are at the heart of CARNAVAL and of course there will be fireworks !!!
16-18 February, Mogán
Mogán Carnival
It’s almost time for the Mogán Carnival to commence but first, let’s enjoy some pre festivities and traditional neighborhood celebrations during the weekend.
On Saturday in Arguineguin at 21:00 a traditional Carnival fiesta with carnival pancakes and chocolate, music and dancing
Carnival festivities in the neighbourhoods over the weekend :
On Friday 16.2.
The Las Filipinas neighborhood is celebrating from 17:00 with a Children’s Costumes party in the Plaza with games, workshops, a fashion catwalk and of course Carnival pancakes with chocolate.
In Playa de Mogán there will have a Carnival concert by ‘Parranda de Teror’, starting at 21:00 on Plaza Dr Pedro Betancor León
On Saturday, 17.2.
El Horno neighborhood is celebrating from 17:00 with a Children’s Costume party at Plaza Centro Sociocultura with games, workshops, a fashion catwalk and of course Carnival pancakes with chocolate. And in the evening at 22:00 Verbena de Carnaval (a Carnival evening party)
Playa de Mogán, at 21:00 a rhythmic dance parade will invite the tourists and residents to attend the Carnival through the streets of Playa de Mogán.
On Sunday, 19.2.
the invitational street parade will move to the beaches of Amadores and Puerto Rico
Playa de Mogán is hosting a children’s costume party on Plaza Dr. Pedro Betancor León, starting at 17:00 with games, workshops, minidisco, fashion catwalk and of course Carnival pancakes with chocolate.
Don’t forget that on the afternoon of Monday 19th , the invitational street parade will be visiting the Puerto Rico Shopping Centre.
16-18 February, Ingenio
Carnival Ingenio
Last events of Carnival festivities 2018 in Villa de Ingenio.
On Friday, Villa de Ingenio is celebrating their 3rd edition of the Drag Queen Gala at 21:30 at Plaza de la Candelaria
On Sunday its all about children and families with Children’s Carnival from 11:00 to 14:00 at Plaza de la Candelaria.
There will be bouncy castles, clowns, jugglers, workshops and even a small parade at 12:00
16-17 February, Gran Canaria
IX Clásica Mecánica Venezuela
Old vehicles racing this Friday and Saturday in this regularity event for historic vehicles, as first stage scoring for the XV Clásica Canarias and second stage for the XII Classic Cup Gran Canaria.
Shopping centre El Mirador acts as the centre for the race, where you can enjoy a permanent exhibition of classic and competition vehicles during the week prior. In the same place there will also be the main presentations, as well as verifications, departures, arrivals and delivery of trophies. ( upper parking area )
On Friday between 21:15 and 23:20 72 kilometers of course divided into five sections around San Lorenzo
The second stage will start on Saturday at 11:00 to end at 17:00 after a two-hour stop for lunch in Tejeda, covering a total of 138 kilometers spread over seven sections. Bañaderos – Arucas
See the full timetable here.
Friday 16 February, San Bartolomé de Tirajana
Carnaval tradicional Canario
San Bartolomé de Tirajana celebrates old style Traditional Carnival in the neighbourhoods just before the main festivities in Maspalomas.
On Friday festivities in
El Pajar, starting at 19:00 at the Plaza as well as in
Castillo del Romeral at 20:00 in Centro de Mayores
Friday, 16 February, Gáldar
Carnival Gáldar
Carnival celebrations in Gáldar will come to an end with their Burial of the Sardine at 21:00, leaving from Polideportivo Municipal Juan Vega Mateos to Plaza de Santiago.
Saturday, 17 February, El Tablero, SBT
‘Vamos al Huerto’
The second edition of ‘Come to the garden’ fair is on Saturday in Plaza de El Tablero (in front of the church). The fair, intended for the exhibition and sale of local agricultural products will take place from 09:00 to 14:00, with the purpose of boosting the open commercial area of El Tablero and turning it into an attractive reference for neighbors and tourists.
This municipal project aims to contribute to the commercial awakening of the people by valuing tradition and agricultural idiosyncrasy, and promote knowledge and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables from the farms close by.
A dozen stands dedicated to the exhibition and sale of agricultural and livestock products, but also there will be a children’s entertainment area with inflatables and workshops, and a live concert by the group Mariandá.
17-18 February, Villa de Agüimes
Carnival Agüimes
On Saturday, the 5th edition of Street Carnival, starting from 11:00 until early hours on Plaza del Rosario and the surrounding area.
On Sunday, the 2nd Children’s dance at 11:30 in Plaza del Rosario
17-18 February, Puerto Rico de Mogán
Carnival festivities at Angry Birds Activity park
For all the family to celebrate together some Carnival fun at Angry Birds Activity Park!
On Saturday; a day full of games, fun and great prizes! Fancy dress competition, fashion show and Clown show
12:00 Costume Workshop – design and make your own costume under the wings of our Angry Birds Flock!
14:00 Face Painting –
16:00 Carnival Procession – Everyone young and old can join in as we showcase our fancy dress costumes before awarding prizes to the winners
18:00 Clown show
On Sunday;15:00 Foam party: many bubbles and the best music from the DJ (do not forget your towel!).
17:00 Meet their star mascot : Red
Saturday 17 February, Santa Lucia de Tirajana
Mercado Agrícola y Ganadero
The big farmers market in Santa Lucia is on Saturday, like every second weekend, at la Karpa from 09:00 to 14:00. Get the freshest products straight from the producers.
Vegetables, fruit, honey, cheeses, oil, bread and sweets are some of the products that can be purchased at this market, formed to support the primary sector of the region.
Sunday 18 February, San Fernando
The 2nd San Fernando litter pick
Community effort by “Clean Gran Canaria” continues after a very successful first litter pick event a few weeks ago.
This time its San Fernando which has been selected for the litter pick. Anyone who wants to join just needs to get to the meeting point in the main Town Hall car park in San Fernando (Ayuntamiento De San Bartolomé De Tirajana) just outside stadium and then they split into 2 large teams.
First: 5-10 minute, stretching warm up with Yoga and Fitness adherent Koen Vaessen, then onto litter picking!
Team 1:
The car park after the car boot sale 2-5pm and surrounding area
Team 2.
Av. De Tunte up to and including Av. De Galdar area
Afterwards return to the car park to put pickings in the recycle bins and finish off with a drink at Timnfaya provided by one of our sponsors (To be announced)
Bring gardening gloves if you can for safety while picking things up.
A great way to get out and about and meet others interested in being the motivation behind a Cleaner Gran Canaria… an afternoon making new friends and making a difference.
Sunday 18 February, Maspalomas
A Walk in the park with Lilly Rikhter
Join Lilly in the lovely southern urban park, ‘Parque Sur de Maspalomas‘ for her bespoke, free and fun hour of stretching with light workout.
Starting at 12:00. Bring an exercise mat or a towel and water with you.
Any body is welcome, just turn up and join in. You’ll leave feeling great!
