The Canary Guide Weekend Tips 2-4 August 2019

The long hot Gran Canaria August is here and it’s a busy summer weekend with some amazing and popular Patronal festivities going on like La Rama up in Agaete as well as the 3rd edition of Tuna fair in Arguineguin, Mogán.  Since its August the weather predictions are… well usual! Expect it to be gorgeous and hot in the south with highs around 30ºC in the shade. Up on the North around 25º with a few odd clouds, according to the latest from AEMET.

2-4 AUGUST, MOGÁN
FERIA DEL ATÚN Y DEL MAR DE MOGÁN

The Third regional Tuna Fair the “Feria del Atún y del Mar de Mogán” is to held in Arguineguin in the main Plaza Pérez Galdós square under the new permanent marquee, just next to the church.

On Friday,  at 20:00 with a popular and free mackerel barbeque and the evening will be enlivened by the music group The Blue Riders

On Saturday,  12:00 sees the opening of the gastronomic sales stalls hosted by several local establishments. Workshops will also be held for the little ones related to the theme of the Fair and a there is a presentation by the marine biologist Pepe Solea and some showcooking by chefs Ivonne Hernández, Paolo Dorazio de Sensi and Borja Marrero.

That same afternoon, at 20:00, there is a tribute to the sailors of the municipality.  Alejandro Álamo from the restaurant “Casa Enrique” will perform the last show cooking display of the day and the evening entertainment will last until 01:00 hours with tastings and music.

On Sunday,  at 11:00 the gastronomic area will open, children’s workshops will be held and show cooking presentations will take place, by the likes of chef Erlantz Gorostiza, from the MB Ritz Carlton Abama on Tenerife that has 2 Michelin stars, and Rosalia Diaz Cieza of Qapaq restaurant. At 14:00, professional chefs will compete for the title of  Chef of the Fair. For this they must make a dish that has tuna as the main ingredient and this will be evaluated by a jury of prestigious chefs and gastronomic journalists.
Likewise, the contest for the Best Tapa made with tuna in which the different restaurants with gastronomic stalls will participate. After the awards ceremony of both competitions, the event will come to an end.

2-4 AUGUST, LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA 
FIESTAS DE SAN LORENZO

San Lorenzo, the lovely little village just about 15 minutes from the capital is celebrating their patron festivities, continuing on to next weekend. A tranquil place that only gets really busy on Sundays with their local farmers market just next to the church. Fiestas de San Lorenzo is most famous for its firework show.

On Friday, there is a tribute concert for the famous singer Selena at 22:00  “Por siempre Selena”  followed by a concert by the groups Los 600 at midnight

On Saturday, The Grand Drag Queen Gala at 22:00 and is followed by a concert by Los Aseres.

On Sunday, There is the lovely Farmers market between 08:00-13:30. At 12:00 Children’s bouncy castles and activities and at 17:30 a Children’s Gala which also includes the election of Child Queen and Mr.
Later in the evening at 22:00, a Body painting contest.

SATURDAY 3 AUGUST,  FATAGA
CHARITY EVENT – POOL PARTY AT HOTEL RURAL & RESTAURANT MOLINO DE AGUA  

A splendid day to be enjoyed up in Fataga and in Molino de Agua. A charitable pool party-event to raise funds after a devastating fire destroyed much of this peaceful getaway in the Spring.

Between 11:00-17:00 the pool will refresh you, the paella will feed you and classic and antique cars exhibition will excite you and music to enliven you too.

4-5 AUGUST, VILLA DE AGAETE
FIESTAS DE LAS NIEVES

One of the major symbols of identity of the island of Gran Canaria is, without a doubt, la Fiesta de La Rama in Agaete, on the north of the island. This is the main fiesta for the town in honour of Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves (Our Lady of the Snows), which was declared a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest in 1972.

August 5th is the main fiesta in honour of the Virgin Mary, ( It is also a local bank holiday in the municipality) but it is the day before, August 4th, when the Fiesta de La Rama is held, when thousands of dancers dancing through the streets waving palm branches in the air, to the rhythm of the two municipal bands, to visit the sanctuary of la Virgen de Las Nieves.

La Fiesta de La Rama, according to those who have studied it, may have a similar meaning to a rain dance ceremony once practised by the native Canary Islands inhabitants who brought palm branches down from the sacred mount Tirma with which to strike the sea while they sang songs praying to their Gods for rain. In the modern-day Fiesta de la Rama of Agaete the branches are not used for hitting the sea, but are offered to the Virgin Mary.  The Catholic church has a knack for taking a party and really making it their own!

On August 5 the main festival for the Villa de Agaete is celebrated in honour of Our Lady of the Snows, whose image is in the hermitage located in the Puerto de las Nieves. The image is there all year long, except for the days that go from August 5 to 17 when she remains in the Parish of Our Lady of Conception, in the town centre. On the 4th of August the Bajada de la Rama takes place, the most popular festive event of all the parties, where thousands of dancers, at the rhythm of one of the two bands of the municipality, depart from the centre of the town to the top of it to catch Pieces of Rama and dance back down with them to the sanctuary of the Virgen de las Nieves. The festive party is headed by big papagüevos, made of cardboard and representing popular people from the town, who turn with their big hands bestowing peace and joy, they also tap the heads of the crowd while making their way through.

On Sunday, Bajada de la Rama starts at 10:00 and the festivities go throughout the whole day. There will also be fireworks at 01:00

On Monday, 10:30 a solemn Eucharist is followed by the traditional religious procession with the image at 12:00. In the evening folk groups with music and dancing at Plaza de la Constitucion at 21:30

4-5 AUGUST, TELDE 
FIESTAS DE LAS NIEVES 

Each year the neighbourhood of Lomo Magullo in the municipality of Telde begins the festivities in honour of their patron at the end of July, with a proclamation, with the raising of the flag and the lighting of the announcing cross. On Sunday and Monday the festivities culminate with a Romeria and the main fiestas Day in honour of the Lady of the snows.

On Sunday 4 August, the pilgrimage offering starts at 19:00 from the entry point of Los Arenales and travels to the Temple of Las Nieves. The night is followed by music at Plaza de Las Nieves at 22:00 and at midnight, a concert by Los Aseres.

On Monday, the main feast day, there are bouncy castles for the little during the whole day. At 12:00 a religious function at the temple is followed by a procession. At 14:00 a lovely little pet parade outside of the Temple and at 17:00 Children’s fiesta and later at 21:00 music performances at Plaza de Las Nieves.