It’s already the first weekend of March and the pre-Springtime carnival festivities continue around the island. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria will have their big finale weekend, including the biggest Carnival parade on Gran Canaria this Saturday. Some carnival festivities have already come to an end, other municipalities are just getting started and there are still plenty to come. Spring is just around the corner.

The European Cheese fair this weekend arrives in Tejeda and the springtime Artisans’ craft fair starts this Friday in the surroundings of Faro de Maspalomas.

Jump to #WeekendTips

Upcoming events:
10-12 March • XIX Southeast Fair in Carrizal
9-19 March • Maspalomas International Carnival
23-26 March • Costa Mogán Carnival 2023
24-26 March • ENORTE, The 21st Business Fair of the North of Gran Canaria in Arucas
31 March-1 April  • The 10th Institutional Fair of the Canary Islands Products of the Land in Vega de San Mateo

Upcoming bank holidays:
Thursday, 6 April Public Holiday in The Canary Islands –  Holy Thursday, Jueves Santo
Friday, 7 April Public Holiday in Spain – Good Friday, Viernes Santo

*** Check out the regular listings and markets and a range of other events, including carnivals on our main calendar at The Canary Guide website***

 


Jump to #WeekendTips


After a very interesting month of February when it came to the weather, the first weekend of March looks already a lot better, but just barely.

So far the forecast shows a bit of instability for Friday. Saturday and Sunday will be mostly sunny with a possibility of some cloud cover around the island.

At the moment it looks like a nice “winter” weekend to enjoy, explore and experience the multiple carnival celebrations and fairs happening around Gran Canaria.

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The Canary Guide


#WeekendTips 3-5 March 2023


EUROPEAN CHEESE FAIR IN TEJEDA 4-5 MARCH 🧀

The 6th edition of the European Cheese fair, ‘La Feria Europea del Queso‘ is organised by the Commonwealth of the North. This year the fair is held in one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, Tejeda. 🧀 

This is an event framed in the European Cheese Route, with a forecast of a massive influx of visitors who are passionate about cheese and there will be thousands of kilos for sale, as has been the case in the previous five editions. The fair is open on Saturday from 10:00-19:00 and on Sunday from 10:00-15:00. 

The ‘Mancomunidad del Norte de Gran Canaria’ organised the first edition of the European Cheese Fair in 2018, in Moya. Artenara hosted the 2019 edition and Valleseco the following. The 2021 edition was held in virtual format due to Covid-19, and the 2022 edition was held in Teror. 

This Fair is organised in collaboration with the European Cheese Route Association, which was born in 2014 with the aim of joining efforts from different European local entities to make cheese a strategic axis of local economic development. The Commonwealth of North of Gran Canaria was integrated into this network of municipalities in April 2017. 

Cheese tastings, children’s workshops, wine and honey, music performances and plenty more cheese.

Guaguas Global has reinforced the bus lines 18 (Faro de Maspalomas – Tejeda) and 305 (San Mateo – Tejeda) the latter with three departures and arrivals from/to Las Palmas de GC to facilitate the use of public transport.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE 12TH SOUTHERN SPRINGTIME ARTISANS FAIR 3-12 MARCH

12ª Feria de Artesanía Primavera Sur‘ is open every day from 10:00 to 19:00 and is the perfect opportunity to see works by some of the best artisans and craftspeople of the Canary Islands; ceramics, wood, metal, leather, textiles, glass and recycled materials among others in a magnificent combination of traditional materials and modern design.

The artisans fair by FEDAC, the Foundation for Ethnography and Craft Development of the Canary Islands, set once again in the idyllic surroundings of The Lighthouse of Maspalomas.

CARNIVAL LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA 2023- CLOSING WEEKEND

The Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Carnival celebrations are coming to a big end this weekend with Gran Canaria’s biggest parade taking place this Saturday. The glamorous era of the legendary New York nightclub «Studio 54» is the theme for this year’s festivities.  Though every type of costumery is to be expected!

“Big festive carnival weekend also means some road closures and parking restrictions, as well as some changes to the bus stops”

 


FRIDAY, 3 MARCH, DRAG QUEEN GALA at 21:00

The Highly anticipated gala is celebrating its 25th anniversary and will transform the Carnival stage into a high-rise disco. This gala, on stage in Santa Catalina, is a ticketed event, always sold out in a few hours after the tickets go for sale. The Gala will also feature a stellar performance by the American pop-rock star Anastacia.
The event will be broadcast on television and on social networks (@lpacarnaval). Televisión Canaria (RTVC) and Televisión Española (RTVE) will broadcast live the gala that, for the first time, will be seen on ‘La 1’.

 

The Carnival party night:

Plaza de la Música | Disco Salsa stage 21:00-03:00
Paradise (Tributo a Coldplay), El Combo Dominicano and Dj Promaster

Parque el Rincón| Dance Urban stage 21:00-03:00
DJ Ray Castellano and Óscar Martínez


 

SATURDAY 4 MARCH: GRAN CABALGATA, THE GRAND PARADE at 17:00

The disco with wheels will hit the streets of the city with the Grand Parade, from Castillo de La Luz in La Islate to Parque San Telmo.

The Parade, with a long line of floats (more than a hundred) in which many celebrate the evening with different music and rhythms, leaves at 17:00 from the iconic Castillo de La Luz (former defense fortress of the city), to go through the elongated urban centre to the San Telmo Park, before the historic quarter of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Triana and its founding nucleus, Vegueta). It is a whole ceremony of partying and fun.

The night is completed by concerts in El Rincón, next to the Plaza de la Música and in San Telmo:

♦Stage in Santa Catalina (20:00-23:30)
Toni Bob and Los Little

♦Parque Litoral El Rincón, stage Dance Urban (21:00-03:00)
Ramses 40 Urban, Danny Romero and Dj Ray Castellano

♦Stage in San Telmo park (22:00-03:00)
La Mekánica by Tamarindos, Leyenda Joven and Muelle Viejo



SUNDAY 5 MARCH: DAYTIME CARNIVAL CELEBRATIONS & BURIAL OF THE SARDINE

Daytime Carnival celebrations in the surroundings of the Plaza de la Música, Santa Catalina, as well as in San Telmo

♦Stage in San Telmo (12:00-19:00)
Señor Natilla, Los Aseres, Grupo Bomba, Ni 1 pelo de tonto and Línea Dj

♦Parque Litoral El Rincón, stage Dance Urban (12:00-19:00)
Furia Joven, Dasoul, José de Rico, Woro and Óscar Martínez

♦Stage in Santa Catalina Park at 12:00 Family soul band and Ulises Costa and at 15:00, an appointment of international importance, the one that will live the Carnival with the Colombian Carlos Vives. The artist will be the star of the last carnival day.

♦The funeral of the Sardine starts from Santa Catalina park at 19:00 towards Las Canteras. There, after arriving accompanied by a procession of mourning widows and the public, the sardine will be burned and the fireworks will be launched to bid farewell to Carnival. Until 2024.

 

CARNIVAL SANTA LUCÍA DE TIRAJANA 2-12 MARCH

The municipality of Santa Lucía de Tirajana also starts celebrating the 2023 Carnival this week. The allegory for the festivities is “Carnival of cartoons”, “Un carnaval de dibujos animados”

From March 2 to 12, the streets and the #TeatroVíctorJara will be filled with costume, fantasy, and glitter in the 15 acts that have been prepared for all ages and audiences.

As a novelty, many parties, a great Street Carnival, a Family Carnival, saying goodbye to the sardine in the Barranquillo de Pozo Izquierdo, the Traditional Carnival, the Murgas Meeting, Drag Paradise Night, and of course, one of the most emblematic acts, the Parade

👉 Tickets for the acts in Teatro Víctor Jara went on sale on Friday 17 February for the first event ‘Alegoría’ at the #AteneoMunicipal and at entrees.es. Check the program for the dates on which tickets and free invitations will be available for the rest of the events.

 

FRIDAY 3 MARCH:
Tribute Night at Plaza de San Rafael. Tribute to Celia Cruz at 22:00 and at 00:00 to Gloría Estefan.

SATURDAY 4 MARCH: STREET CARNIVAL from 10:00
-Children’s Carnival on the pedestrian area of Avenida de Canarias.
Between 10:00-14:00 and 16:00-20:00 bouncy castles, workshops, and street parades. Clown Zapitto 12:00-13:00 and 17:00-18:00.
-Stage on Calle Colón: Totò the clown at 12:00. at 13:00 local Chirimurga group. at 16:30 concert ‘Cuenta Atràs’
at 18:30 Pepe Benavente.
-Stage on Plaza de Los Algodoneros: at 18:00 Concert by Los Lola. At 20:00 DJ Ulises Acosta. at 21:00 concert by Los Salvapantallas. at 22:30 DJ Ulises Costa
-Stage on Plaza de San Rafael: at 13:30 sun party with the Armonía Show group. at 23:30 Star Music. at 01:30 DJ Línea and at 02:00 La Mekánica by Tamarindos.

SUNDAY 5 MARCH: FAMILY CARNIVAL
-Plaza de Los Algodoneros and Pedestrian area of Avenida de Canarias. Between 10:00-14:00 bouncy castles and workshops. at 11:00 music cartoons. Concert by Banda Sol y Viento. at 12:30 concert by Cuentópolis.
-at 19:00 Murgas Meeting in Teatro Víctor Jara (free ticket needed)

 

CARNIVAL TELDE 3-12 MARCH

Telde start their Carnival celebrations this Friday. Two weekends of festivities with this year’s theme “Bollywood”, originally chosen for the 2020 Carnival that was never celebrated. 

Friday 3 March – Plaza de San Gregorio:
at 19:00 Lively and rhythmic street parades announce the carnival start.
at 19:30 Pregón, the opening proclamation of the festivities
at 21:00 Traditional Carnival

Saturday 4 March  – Plaza de San Gregorio:
at 11:00 Family costume contest
at 17:00 Carnival ball at centro de Mayores

Sunday 5 March – Audiorio Parque Urbano de San Juan
at 11:00 Children’s Carnival
at 13:00 Holi Party (yep, its all about talcum powder )

** Carnival Parade on Saturday 11 March **

CARNIVAL ARUCAS 21 FEB - 12 MAR

Arucas is celebrating this weekend their last Carnival events with a Daytime fiesta and Gala. ‘Mundo Otaku‘ Otaku World, chosen by popular vote, as the theme of the Arucas Carnival 2023. The main streets of the municipality will be filled with characters related to the culture of Japan, manga, anime, and video games.

On Saturday 4 March: Daytime Carnival 
An intense program has been prepared to celebrate the daytime carnival in the City of Arucas, with a proposal for all tastes…

📍In the Plaza de la Constitución and Calle León y Castillo (alternately)
▪️ 10:00 Children’s workshops for the little ones
Music performances:
▪️ 11:30 Los Salvapantallas
▪️ 13:30 La Buena Vibra
▪️ 16:30 Los 600
▪️ 18:30 Tataband

📍 In the Plaza de San Juan
▪️ 21:00 Marta Sánchez
Later, party with the Arena Group

On Sunday 5 March: Carnival Gala at 19:30 at Plaza de San Juan 

On Sunday, Arucas say goodbye to the Aruquense Carnival in style with a gala full of shows and lots of partying presented by the great Roberto Herrera.
Enjoy the performances of the Comparsa Aragüimé, an acrobatic show, Adrián Aguiar and the Drag Lemnos, Eiko, Quirón, Shiky, Armek, Hefesto, Vulcano, Eyzet, Acrux, Owen, Sequins and Bibi Orja 💥

 

 
 

 

CARNIVAL AGÜIMES 2023 - CLOSING WEEKEND

The municipality of Agüimes finish their Carnival festivities this Sunday. The allegory for the festivities is ‘The Great Musical’, ‘El Gran Musical’, dedicated to the great musicals of cinema and theatre. This weekend the festivities take place in Cruce de Arinaga 

• On Friday on Plaza Primero de Mayo at 22:00
Tribute to Mannu Manuel and Verbena, a party with Yeary Socorro.

• On Saturday 4 March
11:00-14:00 Children’s play area on Plaza Primero de Mayo
at 21:00 Funeral of the Sardine from Parque Guevara, followed by an after party at Plaza Primero de Mayo enlivened by Armonía Show, Línea Dj and Paco Guedes.

•  On Sunday at Plaza Primero de Mayo
11:30-14:30 Children’s dance
at 13:00 family costume contest.

 

Mogán Neighbourhood Carnival in Casco de Mogán 4-5 March

Before the main carnival festivities in Arguineguín, between 23-26 March, the various neighbourhoods of the municipality celebrate their little carnival festivities during the weekends. This Saturday and Sunday is the turn of Casco de Mogán aka Mogán pueblo.

On Saturday 4 March: Lively little street parades with a music group and masked entourage. Leaving at 21:00 from Calle El Mocán (municipal gymnasium) towards Plaza Sarmiento y Coto where the party continues enlivened by Panamaribe and DJ Nichel B.

On Sunday 5 March: Children’s Carnival starting at 17:00 with Carnival workshops, mini-disco, animation, some chocolate and tortillas at Plaza Sarmiento de Coto.

 

*** Next weekend, neighbourhood carnival festivities in Playa de Mogán 11-12 March. 

 
 
 
 
MARKETS IN THE SOUTH OF GRAN CANARIA

• Friday is always market day in Playa de Mogán in the morning. This popular market is in one of the prettiest fishing harbour towns on Gran Canaria, very popular with tourists.

• On Saturday, the Maspalomas market offers all kinds of textiles, Objet dart and other articles, located now in a new venue at Parque Europeo in Playa del Inglés, while the municipal market is being re-built. It is one of the markets most enjoyed among visitors along with Friday’s in Playa de Mogán;
El Mercadillo de Maspalomas is on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 08:00 to 14:00.

• On Saturday in Arguineguín, a small second-hand market on Plaza Negra (the marketplace) in the morning 09:00-14:00 with a wide range pre-loved treasures.

• On Sunday, the “rastro” second-hand market, ****The second-hand market now takes place in the Ciudad deportiva de Maspalomas, next to football field 2 and close to Pepe Chiringo and Parque Sur de Maspalomas.

• This Sunday, the very popular biweekly farmers’ Market, ‘Mercado Agrícola y ganadero de San Fernando‘ will be held in the parking area next to the football Stadium and the municipal offices from 08:00 – 14:00. A chance to purchase fresh, locally-grown food and value-added produce directly from growers or producers —  an authentic retail experience.

LIVE MUSIC THIS WEEKEND

LPA en VIVO

These are the ‘LPA en Vivo‘, (‘LPA Live’) concerts and shows scheduled for the month of March in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. These gigs are part of another program of “LPA En Vivo”, a project to boost the cultural offer in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria venues and support artists.

All gigs are free entry until capacity is reached.

Friday 3 March in Motown at 22:00 -> Jordan 
Saturday 4 March at Imaginario Drinks & Music at 21:30 -> Arcadia 

Music venues:
Fabrica La Isleta,
Talleres Palermo,
Motown Bar Cerveceria,
El Aparte,
Malecón de la Habana,
Moma Club, and
Imaginario Drinks&Music


 

THE 19th HOLE MELONERAS

Bar & Grill in the shopping centre Varadero in Meloneras. Live Music every night from 22:00 

Friday: Hits 4 Life 
Saturday: Chris Mooney
Sunday: Gary Lithgow
 
 
 

 

KELLY MARLOW

The astounding US Rock sensation, now a local star on Gran Canaria, playing out to an international audience and live across the airwaves.

On Saturday at ROCKABELLA in Playa del Inglés at 18:00-21:00  and later at THE SHAMROCK BAR at 22:30
On Sunday at THE SHAMROCK BAR in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria at 22:30

 

 


 

BARBACOA SHOW BAR – EUROPA CENTRE IN PUERTO RICO DE GRAN CANARIA

Drinks, Food, Children’s play area, piano bar, sports, and much more. and not forgetting the Sunday Roast Dinner from 1pm to 6pm.
Open every day from 08:00-02:00  

On Friday: ABBA Gold Tribute 
On Saturday: Tom Jone & UB40 Tribute 
On Sunday: The Champions Rock’n Roll Show

Barbacoa Piano Bar & Cocktail Lounge Alex Buta from 21:00,  Friday to Sunday