The Canary Guide Weekend Tips 24-26 May 2019

The end of May is fast approaching and in the south patron saint’s fiesta season is in full swing, and there is even a little Jazz festival on offer, as well as free outdoor music in the capital Las Palmas and a ticketed event to see an outstanding tribute concert to none other than the Diva Queen of Soul Music, Aretha Franklin. Beautiful weather is expected all through the weekend in the south, according to the AEMET forecast, and Northern parts may be accompanied by some cloud cover.

Sunday is also a very important day in the Canaries. The 2019 Canarian regional election is being held to elect the 10th Parliament of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. All 70 seats in the Parliament will be up for election for the next 4 years. The election will be held simultaneously with regional elections in eleven other autonomous communities and local elections all throughout Spain, as well as the 2019 European Parliament election.

NEXT THURSDAY 30 MAY IS CANARY ISLANDS DAY AND A BANK HOLIDAY THROUGHOUT THE ARCHIPELAGO “DÍA DE CANARIAS”

24-25 MAY, MOTOR GRANDE, PUERTO RICO, MOGÁN
FIESTAS PATRONALES DE MARÍA AUXILIADORA

The local celebrations in honour of Maria Auxiliadora, (Mary the helper of Christians) comes to an end this Saturday in Motor Grande, the tiny residential neighbourhood from which Puerto Rico originated.

On Friday the 24th there is a mass and procession in Honor of Mary Helper of Christians starting at 19:00 and later at 20:30 A night of Bolero romantic love songs from music trio “Los Tres Aries”.

On Saturday 25 of May, starting at 11:00 there is a children’s party with inflatables and a mini disco. Later in the Day, at 19:00, the main Romeria pilgrimage offering processes through the streets with carts and local residents dressed in traditional canary islands clothing. The religious parade starts in front of the roundabout just next to the Puerto Rico shopping centre and ends next to the hermitage in the neighborhood of Motor Grande. An after party in the streets of Motor Grande will follow with music by Paco Guedes and Group Nueva Fuerza will start at 23:00 and there is going to be a firework show at midnight.

The romeria will cause some traffic restrictions on Saturday 25th, on the main road for the duration of the procession.

24-26 MAY, SAN FERNANDO, San Bartolomé de Tirjana
FIESTAS de SAN FERNANDO DE MASPALOMAS

The Maspalomas neighbourhood of San Fernando, once a simple village of tomato growers, enjoy their patron saint celebrations from 23 May – 2 June

On Friday 24.5. Children’s animation at 18:00 at Plaza de San Fernando. There is a Eucharist mass at 19:30 at the park next to the church. DJ competition at midnight in the Chiringuito area (in front of the municipal swimming pool).

On Saturday 25.5. an event named Canarian Masparranda Juerga starting at 21:00 organized in the old part of San Fernando, with the Bejeque Group offering training and traditional revelry with local music groups, rope runs between single and married women and the tasting of typical and traditional homemade dishes. At midnight an after party at Plaza de San Fernando with music by Legenda Joven and DJ Sammyto

On Sunday 26.5. the second hand market at the municipal market place starting at 09:00.  There is a eucharist mass at the church at 09:30, 11:30 and 19:30. Later during the day children’s animation at Plaza de San Fernando at 18:00 and at 19:30 the Gala Election of the Juvenile and children’s Queen of this year’s fiestas with performances from local dance and music groups.

24-25 MAY, PUERTO DE MOGÁN (until 1 June)
JAZZ FESTIVAL BY BAR MARINA 

This exquisite annual event, this Friday and Saturday (not on Sundays)  continues until 1.6.2019, in the most beautiful little harbour town on Gran Canaria, Puerto de Mogán. The live music Jazz festival, as ever sponsored by Bar Marina and the Dennehy family. Music starts in the evenings at 19.30-23:00 just next to the Marina bar. Richard Leach’s Jazz Band presiding.

SATURDAY 25 MAY, LAS PALMAS
MUSICANDO

The Musicando series of free outdoor concerts open for all to enjoy.

This season started in January in Parque Doramas in Las Palmas. All concerts start at 21:00 and are free to enter until seats full.

This Saturday the eternal bolero returns to the Doramas park, under the direction of Luis Montesdeoca, the chamber symphony orchestra merges with the requinto performed by Daniel García and the voice of the singer Pedro Manuel Afonso to present to the public “Boleros sinfonicos”.

The show will include soloist Candelaria González and the Trío Estelar performing in the auditorium José Antonio Ramos at this capital city park.

SATURDAY 25 MAY, LAS PALMAS 
ARETHA SOUL DIVAS & THE SILVERBACKS

A Tribute to Aretha Franklin starting at 21:00 in Auditorio Alfredo Kraus in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Aretha, one of the greatest singers of all time died last year, but her spirit and her legacy are still more alive than ever. Last year her death coincided with the 75th anniversary of her birth and with her retirement from the stage. She left a unique musical legacy as well as her life long commitment to civil rights and the empowerment of women having helped to make changes that continue to reverberate throughout the world.

There will be no shortage of the well known songs that have already become and indelible part of the history of popular music over the last century includting “Respect”, “Think” and “I Say A Little Prayer” along with many others that have marked her career over several decades. In this special tribute an “all star” female vocalist cast have assembled: Astrid Jones, Mayka Edjole, Shirley Davis and Juno (Winner of the Enlace Funk award for the best female vocalist of 2018),  accompanied by one of the finest Soul and Funk bands performing today, The Silverbacks, who won the best album of the year award for their last production with Shirley Davis, and the group of the Tucxone Records label.

There are still tickets available and can be purchased here

SUNDAY 26 MAY, TEROR
MERCADILLOS DE TEROR 

The surroundings of the Basilica del Pino are transformed each Sunday by the weekly market, one of the oldest street markets on the island with more than two centuries of history. Typical local produce such as sausage, black pudding, sweets, cheese and bread, religious items, textiles, handicrafts, etc.

Sunday market in Teror in Plaza de Sintes. 09:00-15:00

‘Farmer’s Corner’  located in Plaza de la Alameda Pío XII, in front of the Episcopal Palace, also from 9:00 to 15:00, offering agri-food products (vegetables, fruits, vegetables, medicinal herbs, spices, cheeses or honeys).

Sunday 26 May, Gran Canaria 
FREE Museum Sundays

Get your FREE dose of Gran Canaria culture and history. Admission to the Cueva Pintada de Gáldar Museum and Archaeological Park as well as Casa de Colón will  be free from now on, every Sunday of the year.

Noteworthy! There is also free admission from now (every opening day) into the following house museums of Cabildo de Gran Canaria.

Casa-Museo Antonio Padrón. C Arte Indigenista.
Casa-Museo León y Castillo. Cabildo de Gran Canaria
Casa-Museo Pérez Galdós. Cabildo de Gran Canaria
Casa-Museo Tomás Morales. Cabildo de Gran Canaria