The Canary Guide Weekend Tips 23-25 August 2019

It’s has been a scary couple of weeks on our beautiful little island of Gran Canaria. With 3 forest fires up in the mountains and the last one “IFValleseco” hitting our rural communities hard, as well as the animals and our pristine natural wilderness.  Many ongoing local festivities, celebrations and patronal fiestas were cancelled during the emergencies and the situation is not yet clear for now, with the remaining fires “stabilised, but not yet controlled”.

The weekend ahead again has orange alerts forecast for Gran Canaria due to expected high temperatures. Our primary emergency service 1-1-2 Canarias have warned of adverse weather phenomena and declared a situation of pre-alert fromThursday. In addition Gran Canaria is still on a level 2 Emergency Plan due to the forest fires.

The most important thing is to not go up to the affected areas, avoid the mountain summits this weekend, and let the firefighters and government officials do their jobs and keep us all safe. 

Here are just some of our picks of events happening, in the more coastal areas of the island…

23-25 AUGUST, MELENARA, TELDE 
FIESTAS DE MELENARA 22.8.-1.9. 

The north east seaside neighborhood of Melenara in Telde, are celebrating their annual festivities in honour of the Santo Cura de Ars, Our Lady of Carmen and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the patrons of this coastal district. 

On Friday, election of King and Queen of the festivities, starts at 21:00 and is followed by a drag queen Gala spectacle at 21:30

On Saturday, the traditional “Romeria” pilgrimage offering at 18:00 heading to the church followed by an after party enlivened by a DJ

On Sunday,The Traditional Chinchorro at 10:00. It is an old fishing technique, a prohibited modality but that every year is allowed to be recreated within the program.  “Varada de Pescado” at 13:00 with its vendors along the beach of Melenara representing ancient beach customs of the coastal communities. At 14:00 The Fish barbecue with fish caught locally and tastings of sea bass. At 15:00 music by David Yanez and later in the evening some Spanish language humor with comedian Ivan el Bastonero.

(Tip!  the big fireworks show is on next Saturday, 31 August on the Melenara beach) at midnight.

23-25 AUGUST, INGENIO
FIESTAS DE SAN HARAGÁN 

Summer festivities in the tiny little coastal community of Playa del Burrero, in the municipality of Ingenio, with the Fiestas de Haragán. Music concerts, barbecues, aquatic activities and much more…  (at avenida maritima and the beach )

The activities begin this Friday, on Avenida Marítima del Burrero with the concert “Surco”  starting at 22:30 and the night continues with more music at the “beach bars” right next to the beach area.

On Saturday,  there is a boat race starting at 10:00. Later in the evening , a concert by “Madlita EGB” at  22:30, which will recall old songs from the eighties and nineties. And the rest of the night can be again enjoyed at the “beach bars” and with some music.

On Sunday, the beach bars will give way to other activities, which will be dedicated throughout the morning to the little ones thanks to the aquatic children’s entertainment made up of an inflatable boat, pool and foam party between 11:00-14:00.  The parties will close with a popular fish barbecue and music from 13:00 to 16:00. 

SATURDAY 24 AUGUST, SAN BARTOLOME DE TIRAJANA
MASPALOMAS PRO 2019 EUROTOUR 

The best paddle surfing in Europe is happening this Saturday in Playa del Inglés. The Maspalomas Pro 2019 Eurotour attracts some of the best riders on the continent. The competition will have its administrative nerve centre at the Tipsy Hammock bar, on the main beachfront promenade of Playa del Inglés, where competitors will undergo registration and technical checks on August 23.

The Paddle surf test, part of the European circuit, will have around 50 competitors participating in 4 different categories. Start and finish is located in the sports area of Playa de Inglés, at the height of the beach bar number 5.

Now in its fifth edition, the Maspalomas Pro Race Eurotour has for the first time been included in the international calendar of regional paddle surf events, which ensures participation of the most outstanding athletes on the European continent. In turn, the Gran Canarian test is included in the regional paddle surf circuit so it becomes one of the most important championships in Spain.

SATURDAY 24 AUGUST, ARUCAS 
MERCADO AGRÍCOLA DE GRAN CANARIA 

This market takes place every fortnight in the facilities of the Cabildo’s Experimental Agricultural Farm, located next to the detour to Arucas from GC-2, on the north coast of Gran Canaria. Click here to the map location.  The market comprises some 65 exhibitors (farmers and ranchers) who market their products directly to the consumer, with the aim of lowering costs to the consumer, while increasing profits direct to the farmer.

Fruits?, vegetables ?, cheeses ?, meats ?, fish ?, sweets ?, bread, honey ?, mushrooms ? and many more products directly from the hands of the producer. The market is from 09:00-13:00

SATURDAY 24 AUGUST, MOGÁN
‘TU MEJOR PUESTA DEL SOL’

‘Your best sunset’ celebrates its last session of the free outdoor summer activities organised by the town hall, this Saturday at Playa de Marañuelas in Arguineguín. Enjoy a summer afternoon of free guided classes in Latin dance, aquagym, spinning, functional step and yoga. Tomy Hernández will be there liven up the fun  sporting activities.

◾️ Latin dance at 19:30-20:00
◾️ Aquagym at 19:30-20:00
◾️ Spinning at 20:05-20:35
◾️ Step functional at 20:05-20:35
◾️ Yoga at 20:40- 21:10

SUNDAY 25 AUGUST, SAN FERNANDO, SBT 
El Mercado Agrícola San Fernando de Maspalomas

The Sunday Farmers Market has returned to it’s original neighborhood,  in San Fernando. The Market is on between 08:00-13:00/14:00

This biweekly farmers market is held in the now urban centre of the area from which it receives the name, under the large covered esplanade between three unmistakable points, the Maspalomas Municipal Stadium, the main Cultural Centre and Library and the main Municipal Town Hall Offices for Maspalomas.

SUNDAY 25 AUGUST, LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA 
MÚSICA EN EL PARQUE

The ‘Music in the Park’ festival returns to the Doramas park with a free concert from Ladama on Sunday, starting at 12:00 in the Auditorio José Antonio Ramos (just behind hotel Santa Catalina).

They are four strong beautiful women of different nationalities; United States, Venezuela, Brazil and Colombia. United in the group Ladama, their music is a journey through popular songs of their countries, fusing cumbia, joropo or maracatú with a few drops of pop, creating a unique Pan-American sound.