Fiestas on Tenerife, Fiestas Lustrales in Garachico

 Not quite a once in a lifetime event, but as it takes place only every five years, it’s the next best thing. Garachico has been celebrating its Fiestas Lustrales since Thursday 22nd July, but the literal highlight will be the Fuegos del Risco on Sunday 1st August from 21.45 when balls of fire are due to be rolled down the hillside in a re-enactment of sorts of the lave flows which changed the town’s fortunes in 1706.

This is one I haven’t seen, so I’ll definitely be there. I passed through yesterday and Garachico, decked out like something out of a fairy tale, is looking good enough to eat.

Fiestas on Tenerife, Dia de la Trilla

 It’s time to pull on the dungarees (not compulsory), plonk a straw hat on your head (essential in the heat) and stick a piece of straw between your teeth and head into the hills for the wonderful Dia de la Trilla near San José de los Llanos.

It’s not the biggest fiesta on the island and don’t expect ‘carnaval’ type fun as it involves a fascinating display of the traditional way of threshing wheat. Starting with humans then progressing to lively steeds and lumbering oxen.
It's Small, intimate (muscling past caballeros is essential to get a beer at the bar) and an insight to the life that exists in rural Tenerife.

Date: Saturday 31st July (from mid-morning is probably best time to be there – the beer can run out by early afternoon).

Festivals on Tenerife – Festival de Candelaria

Another festival on Tenerife which has been taking place for some time is the Festival de Candelaria. It started on the 25th June and finishes on the 31st July (gives them time for a bit of a breather before their next huge fiesta mid August).

The festival on Tenerife’s east coast has attracted some major names in music world such as Bo Selecta - Craaaig Davies. This year’s big name, Rosana, may not ring any bells amongst many British residents and visitors, but the Lanzarote born songstress has sold more that 6 million albums around the world. Rosana’s concert closes the festival on the 31st July (10pm).

Between now and then there are also folklore concerts, processions and Hip-Hop competitions.

See Full Agenda Here (in Spanish)

Festivals on Tenerife - Sansofé 2010, Granadilla de Abona

We’re a bit late getting the Sansofé 2010 programme for Granadilla de Abona on Tenerife Matters as it started on the 1st on July.

However, as the sports events, concerts and exhibitions which form Sansofé continue until the end of August there's still loads to enjoy.

Highlights include Granadilla de Abona’s new talent competition on the 13th, 14th and 15th august (El Médano), the folklore concerts from 16th to the 22nd August (El Médano), the Kite Boarding World championship between the 9th and 14th August (El Médano) and the closing concert with K-narias at 9pm on the 28th August.

See Here for Full Programme of Events (in Spanish)

Festivals on Tenerife – Eólica 2010

Like a number of other popular festivals on Tenerife, the Eólica Festival which won a ‘Greener Festival’ award last year, is the latest victim of the crisis affecting Spain at the moment. There won’t be a festival this year.

The good news is that the concert will return in July 2011.

Food on Tenerife - Sea Urchins...Eat Them

Forgive the groan inducing title, but this is should be of interest to those adventurous foodies out there.

From the 23rd to the 25th July the Hotel Escuela Santa Cruz is offering a very imaginative menu based on the erizo del mar...that's sea urchin to you and me.

For €28 you get to try sea urchin croquettes, sea urchin salad, sea urchin with guacamole, sea urchin and rice, fish with sea urchin sauce. Wisely I feel, they've opted to leave the sea urchins out of the dessert choices.

It's an interesting menu for sure and sounds so much more enticing in Spanish...croquetitas de diadema de mar anyone?

Fiestas on Tenerife – Admiral Nelson Attacks Santa Cruz…Again

Even an economic crisis can’t stop an old warhorse. Admiral Nelson’s troops will once again try to take the city of Santa Cruz at the end of July…and will once again fail. You’d have thought they’d have learned by now.

Troops in 18th century uniforms will be marching through the capital’s streets on Friday 23rd July at 6pm and with a recreation of the battle taking place in front of the auditorium on Saturday 24th July at midday before fighting spreads into the streets around the Noria district at 8pm. Fighting on the streets on a Saturday night – it’ll almost be like being back in Blighty.

The British troops finally admit defeat on Sunday 25th July at midday in Plaza Candelaria and everyone shakes hands, well maybe not Nelson,  like the perfect gentlemen they were in those days.

Bravo!

Music Festivals on Tenerife – Heineken Canarias Jazz & Más 2010

If you're of the school that thinks Jazz is cool, then July is the time to visit the island of eternal springtime (some places must have seriously hot springtimes). The Heineken Canarias Jazz & Más festival lasts from the 8 - 18th July and there are ten concerts on Tenerife between those dates.

9 July, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Plaza del Auditorio, 10pm,free entrance
CÉU
FUNKFARRIA

10 July 2010, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Plaza del Auditorio, 10pm, free entrance
FRANK GAMBALE G-FORCE BAND
THREE

12 July 2010, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Auditorio de Tenerife, 9pm, tickets €25
DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER TO BILLIE HOLIDAY WITH LOVE: A Celebration of 'Lady Day'

13 July, Santa Cruz de Tenerife,Auditorio de Tenerife, 9pm, tickets €10
MIGUEL ZENÓN QUARTE,
ARI HOENIG TRIO

14 July, Puerto de La Cruz, Plaza Europa, 9pm, free entrance
African Night with ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO & YUL BALLESTEROS QUARTET

15 July, Puerto de La Cruz, Plaza Europa, 9pm, free entrance
JACQUES SCHWARZ BART QUARTET
JOSE ALBERTO MEDINA - J.A.M. TRIO

16  July, Puerto de La Cruz, Plaza Europa, 9pm, free entrance
GERALD TOTO
CHRISTIAN SCOTT QUINTET

17 July, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Auditorio de Tenerife, 9pm, tickets €20
GONZALO RUBALCABA QUINTET

18 July, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Auditorio de Tenerife, 9pm, tickets €25
MARCUS MILLER TUTU REVISITED

Buy Tickets For Canarias Jazz & Más 2010 Here

Concerts on Tenerife – Music From the Cinema; Fimucité 2010

You can hardly walk anywhere in Summer on Tenerife without stumbling across a concert of some sort. Fimucité in July should appeal to both film fans and aficionados of classical music.

The main theme of this years festival is the collaboration of John Williams' scores with Steven Spielberg, so lots of rousing Indiana Jones themes, Jurassic Park scores having you looking over your shoulder for a hungry raptor, Close Encouter's mother ship music (Mount Teide would be perfect for that...and you never know what sort of audience it might attract  up there) and the classic Jaws soundtrack (hope they don't play that one too close to any of Tenerife's beaches).

Performances will take place in Santa Cruz and La Laguna (see full programme here) between 5 -10 July.

And like last year, the Fimucité website opening page is a cracker.

Concerts in Tenerife – International World Music Day, Puerto de la Cruz

Puerto de la Cruz plays host to a scorching event to welcome the official start to summer 2010 and a hot season of great musical events on Tenerife.

This Saturday, seven artists and groups take part in the Día Internacional de la Música 2010 concert beside the harbour in Tenerife’s first tourist town.

I’ve got to confess to not knowing any of the artists involved: Los Seis Días (Barcelona), Aaron Thomas (Madrid), Lovey Rita (Sevilla), baden bah! (Salamanca), Bikini Invaders (Tenerife), Fuel Fandango (Lanzarote - Córdoba) and San Leon (Barcelona)

But who the hell cares, I can’t think of a better way to bring in summer than listening to some live music by the harbour in Puerto.

The concert kicks off on Saturday 19th June at 5pm and, get this, is totally free.

Festivals on Tenerife – Santa Blues 2010

Great news for blues fans on Tenerife, it looks as though the Santa Blues festival in Santa Cruz is going ahead this year.
I don't know where Colin Kirby found the information for Tenerife Magazine as I've been scouring cyberworld for weeks looking for the merest mention of one of my favourite festivals of the year, but I'm cock-a-hoop that he did.

The festival seems to chop and change its format on a yearly basis; this year will be held over three consecutive nights between 24th & 26th June. As the San Juan celebrations take place on the 24th June, it promises to be one of the best weeks of the year on Tenerife.

Festival Details

24th June – American blues guitarist and singer, Larry McCray headlines with support acts from  Rojas Blues Band and Esther Ovejero.

25th June - American blues songstress Sandra Hall headlines with The Johnny Perez Trio as support act.

26th June – American swamp blues guitarist and singer Kenny Neal headlines on the final night of the festival with The Tina Rioro Quartet supporting.

Hot blues on sultry summer nights – my idea of festival heaven.

The music kicks off at 9pm each night and the whole shebang is free.

Food on Tenerife – Tapas Route in Puerto de la Cruz

What are they trying to do to us in Tenerife? Summer's on the doorstep, a time to be parading those six packs and shapely curves on the playas (I wish), and here they are tempting us with yet another tapas route.

The second Ruta de Tapas, 'Papeando entre Volcanes' started in Puerto de la Cruz yesterday and will continue until the 6th June by which time it'll be more a case of beer barrels and curves with the consistency of blancmange on the playas if the goodies on offer are anything to go by.

As the title suggests there's a theme running through the tapas on offer with dishes sporting intriguing and poetic names like secreto en erupción, litoral de lava and volcân de sabor y color.

Have a look below to see photos, ingredients and participating restaurants.

Each tapas is €4 including beer, wine or water. It's a bit of a price increase from previous routes, but I'll have to try one to see if it's because portions are bigger which from the look of the photos might be the case.

You need a passport to participate, but these can be picked up at the restaurants, Cámara office or the town hall.

Get these stamped at ten different restaurants and you enter a draw for a fabby prize.

ruterotapacanaria2010

Concerts on Tenerife - Simply Red to Perform at Adeje Golf 2010

 Out of the blue it's been announced that Simply Red will be performing at Adeje Golf on 20th July as part of the Canary Island Festival.

Some tickets went on pre-sale on Thursday, but most will go on sale on 27th May and can be purchased via the Sun Live Festival site.

This is a definite one and has been announced on the official Simply Red website as an addition to their Farewell tour.

This might be one of the last chances you get to see them live...until they reform when the money's too tight to mention.

Culture on Tenerife - Free Entry to Museums on Tenerife

Okay it's a bit last minute, but this is Tenerife where last minute amounts to at least some notice. To celebrate International Museum Day, the Tenerife government have announced that entry to all of the Cabildo's museums on Tenerife is free tomorrow 18th May.

And with prophetic timing, Tenerife Magazine has listed the top ten museums on Tenerife which include quirky and the fun places to learn about the island and which are proof that museums don't have to be stuffy and boring.

Food on Tenerife – Tapas Route 'El Almáciga' in Arona

It's time for tapas lovers to salivate. These tapas routes are becoming more and more popular on Tenerife which is great news for the foodies amongst us. This one involves restaurants around the municipality of Arona in South Tenerife (if you're a bit fuzzy with your Tenerife municipalities, this is the one that Las Américas, Los Cristianos and Las Galletas are all in - although the participating restaurants are all in the towns away from the coast).

With tapas like pescado salteado con ajo y cebolla (salted fish with garlic and onion), cazuela de morcilla al camembert y azafrán canario (Canarian black pudding, camembert and saffron) and sorpresa de calamar de las 7 islas (It's squid, but you'll just have to try it to find out what the surprise is) on offer, methinks it's time to head into the hills.

Click here for list of participating restaurants and tapas dishes.

Dates: From 1st to 13th June

Price: €3.00 for a tapas with glass of wine, beer or water

Festivals on Tenerife – Ritmos del Mundo, Costa Adeje

When does spring end and summer begin? 20th June according to the Ritmos del Mundo poster. This year the all day DJ fest relocates to a little piece of Thailand where you don't have to worry about getting whacked by riot police, in other words Siam Park in Costa Adeje.

It's a perfect venue to bump, grind and shake those booties as Erick Morillo, Real El Canario and a whole host of other DJs bring the sounds of summer to Tenerife.

Tickets: From €26 Buy Your Ticket Here

Activities on Tenerife – Win 3 Free Rounds of Golf at Isla de Golf Courses

Bad news for golf widows, Tenerife Magazine's latest fab prize is three free rounds of golf on three different, stunning Isla de Golf courses (Buenavista Golf, Golf Costa Adeje, Golf las Americas, Golf del Sur and Tecina Golf).

Good news for golfers though, to be in with a chance of winning all you have to do is become a fan of Tenerife Magazine on Facebook.

Competition closes 2nd June 2010

Fiestas on Tenerife – Corpus Christi Flower Carpets, La Orotava

Want a sneak preview of this year's design for the huge sand and soil tapestry which is due to be laid outside the town hall in La Orotava to celebrate Corpus Christi? Admittedly, it's hardly a sneak preview now that the council have announced it on their website, but what the hell...it just sounds better.

This year to commemorate the year of the priests which ends on the 19th June, the theme of the design is the last supper. Well the last supper, a handful of flowers and 18 butterflies, which are a rather nice and colourful distraction from the religious solemnity of the main images.

Looks as though it's going to be one of the most vibrant sand carpets yet.

Concerts on Tenerife – The Beach Boys

Who needs Whitney when we’ve got the likes of The Beach Boys rolling into Santa Cruz on their surf boards (probably more like zimmer frames these days) in July to fill the capitol’s streets with their easy Californian sounds.

I wonder if they’ll sing ‘I wish they all could be Candelaria girls’.

Date: 7th July 2010

Venue:  Pabellón Insular de Tenerife Santiago Martín, Santa Cruz

Time: 9pm

Tickets: From €25 Buy Tickets Here

Concerts on Tenerife – David Bisbal in Santa Cruz

If you live on Tenerife and haven’t heard of David Bisbal then you clearly never, ever watch Spanish TV as his likeable mug is on at least one of the main channels every day of the week. He’s a sort of Spanish version of Robbie Williams but without the love it or hate it arrogance.
When English language speakers talk about big names playing Tenerife they often overlook the Spanish music scene – David Bisbal with his catchy blend of flamenco poprock is a big name and he’s singing somewhere in Santa Cruz in September.

Date: 25th September 2010

Time: 10pm

Location: Santa Cruz (possibly Parque Marítimo César Manrique)

Tickets: From €23 Buy Tickets Here

Fiestas on Tenerife: Romerías de San Isidro in Valle Guerra, Mercedes, Granadilla de Abona & Arguayo

I’ve got a question for anyone who lives on Tenerife who hasn’t actually seen a traditional romería – how have you managed to avoid them? From May onwards you can hardly go anywhere without tripping over a cart decorated with fruit and flowers pulled by a couple of seriously big bovines.

They’re great fun and will make anyone who believes that Tenerife has been completely engulfed by tourism think again. The real Tenerife is alive, kicking and having a whale of a time. If you don’t believe me head to Valle Guerra on 9th May, Granadilla de Abona on 15th May, Arguayo in the south west on 16th May or Mercedes on 30th May and you’ll see exactly what I mean.

Concerts on Tenerife – ‘El Barrio’ Modern Flamenco in Tenerife

On the travel forum Tripadvisor the question ‘where can I see flamenco music on Tenerife?’ often comes up – usually from people who haven’t sussed where the Canary Islands actually are.

Normally the answer given is the exuberant Carmen Mota Ballet in Las Américas, but this month there’s another option as popular Spanish singer/songwriter José Luis Figuereo ‘El Barrio’ brings his particular handclapping, guitar banging and heel stomping brand of 21st century flamenco sounds to Santa Cruz.

Date: 8th May

Time: 10pm

Venue: Parque Marítimo César Manrique, Santa Cruz

Tickets: From €20 Buy Tickets Here

Music on Tenerife – IV Arona Jazz Festival, Los Cristianos

It’s hard to beat a bit of cool jazz sounds on a sultry night so visitors to Los Cristianos are in for a bit of a treat this month.  The Plaza de la Iglesia in the centre of town is the setting for the Arona Jazz Festival which takes place on the 7th and 8th May.

Details: 7th – 9pm, Steve Sherriff and Arona Jazz Quartet; Anna Rodíguez y Eliseo Lloreda; 8th – 9pm, Canaries Jazz Orchestra

Shows on Tenerife: ‘Alma’ – The New Carmen Mota Spectacular in Playa de Las Américas

People who think nightlife in Las Américas consists solely of dated tribute acts and bars full of pissed up young Brits would have their preconceptions turned completely upside down if they turned up at la Pirámide de Arona for the brand new Carmen Mota show ‘Alma’ which opens from the 5th May.

This heady fusion of flamenco, classical and contemporary Spanish dance is a world class spectacle in a Las Vegas type setting which is guaranteed to delight audiences and confound some expectations…and afterwards you can head to a tribute bar just to reassure yourself that Las Américas hasn’t completely lost its cheap and cheerful side.

Tickets: €43 (€30 residents) On Sale Here

Times: 7pm (Mon to Wed), 10pm (Thur), 9.30pm (Frid & Sat)

Thanks to islandmomma for the new times as at 3rd August 2010: " Hi. Those opening times are out of date. Maybe changed for the summer? Now is Mon and Wed 7.30, Tues, Fri and Sat 9.30 and I think Thurs @ 10. info on their site, but just rang them to confirm."

Fiestas on Tenerife – Fiesta de la Cruz – Firework Fiesta, Los Realej

Don’t forget that one of Europe’s longest firework displays takes place on Monday 3rd May in Los Realejos.

When I say longest I mean it – it can last from somewhere between 9pm and 10pm (it depends how long the procession which precedes the display takes) until about 1am. Not that there are fireworks exploding consistently. The historic pyrotechnic battle between two rival streets in the town takes place in stages and there can be quite long gaps between displays.

Don’t forget to take a jacket as Los Realejos’ slopes are still a bit on the cool side at this time of year.

Music Festivals on Tenerife – Tensamba 2010

The Brazilian music festival Tensamba promises to bring some spice to Tenerife during spring and early summer. Tenerife joins the likes of Rio de Janeiro, London, Paris and Madrid in celebrating that pulsating Brazilian beat between April and June.

On Tenerife there are concerts planned in Santa Cruz, La Laguna, El Sauzal, La Victoria and La Orotava.

However, one of the highlights must be the Tensamba Festival in Puerto de la Cruz on 8th May between 5pm and 2am the following morning when there are batucada and capoira exhibitions whilst the best of Brazil's DJ's rock the port with a sexy electro samba party.

Dates: From 16th April to 12th June

See Full Programme of Concerts Here

Fiestas on Tenerife: Fiestas de Mayo 2010 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

It's a month of partying in Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz to celebrate the founding of the city way, way back in 1492 (wasn't that when Columbus sailed the ocean blue?)

Just as it does during carnaval, the city explodes into life with a heady mix of traditional, contemporary and sporting events.

The fun kicks off this Friday and the highlights to look out for are: Election of the fiesta queen (Plaza Candelaria, 9pm, Saturday 25th April); traditional flower exhibition (Parque García Sanabria, 6pm, Wednesday 28th April) and the dance of the magos (Calle La Noria, 9pm, Sunday 2nd May).

It seems to me that this year's celebrations are more traditional and less contemporary than in previous years.

For the full line up of activities see here (Spanish only)

Fiestas on Tenerife: Party Time in Tegueste – The Romería de San Marcos

Tegueste is a lovely little town near La Laguna and it's currently holding celebrations in honour of San Marcos Evangelista.

The highlight of the revelling is the romería on Sunday. It's as big a romería was as you'll find anywhere on Tenerife and boasts some of the most elaborately decorated carts. As romerías go, it also has a very young and trendy feel to it and is quite a party. I for one shall be there with my little  romería glass partaking of the free wine.

Date: Sunday 25th April

Time: From 1pm, but get there earlier if you want a parking space within 1 mile of the town.

Sport on Tenerife Half Marathon Las Galletas (XIV Medio Maratón de Las Galletas)

It’s run in the sun time in the south of Tenerife. The 14th Las Galletas half marathon takes place next month. 21 kilometres under a damn hot, if not searing, sun.

I become a sweaty bit of mess if I do the slightest bit of gardening, so running in Tenerife’s temperatures seems bordering on the insane.

But for those of you mad enough to enter, the time to beat is 1:04:11 if you’re a man and 1:13:30 if you’re a woman.

At least, unlike the race the week before, you can wear some clothes for this one.

Time: 9am

Date: 11th April

Place: Las Galletas

See the website for more details

Easter on Tenerife – The Passion in Adeje

Anyone who really wants to experience how Easter (Semana Santa) is celebrated on Tenerife shouldn’t have far to travel to find out. There are processions and events in every town during Easter week.

Normally the biggest and best fiestas are in the northern parts of Tenerife and a bit of a hike for the majority of tourists who stay in the south of the island, but Adeje’s depiction of The Passion of Christ is one of the main events of the holidays.

About 300 of the local townspeople take part in a stirring and re-enactment of The Passion on Adeje town’s old streets – a hop, skip and a jump from the biggest resorts.

Time and Place: Good Friday (2nd April) from midday in Calle Grande, Adeje Town

Events on Tenerife – Walking over the Peak in Santiago del Teide

Anyone who tells you that La Gomera is what Tenerife used to be like hasn’t spent much time in the hills on the island. There are plenty of places where life has hardly changed in eons.

Take the hamlets around Santiago del Teide for instance. On any day of the year you’ll normally find old women in straw and men in fedoras harvesting their crops by hand. On the 11th April they’ll be taking another step back in time by reintroducing an old custom, Al Paso de la Cumbre – Walking over the Peak.

This wonderful, if leg muscle testing, tradition involves local merchants in traditional costume traipsing along old trading routes with their livestock and produce such as cheese, honey and wine to trade with other villages.
On the 11th, they’ll reach Santiago del Teide.

So if you want to witness the old Tenerife that still exists in the hillsides, save yourself the ferry fare to La Gomera and head up to Santiago del Teide next month.

Note: We’ll post more details when they become available.

Get Ready to Bounce, Jiggle and Wiggle – It’s the First Nude Race on Tenerife ( I Carrera Nudista VKS)

Okay, this one has got to be seen to be believed; next month sees the first Carrera Nudista at Playa de la Tejita near El Médano.

In truth contestants won’t be completely nude, runners are allowed to wear hats, sunglasses, socks and shoes – so a modicum of decency then – anything else and they’ll be disqualified.

The race is organised by the people behind the Xtreme race in Puerto de la Cruz last weekend and whilst that was great fun to watch, the 3 kilometre nudist race promises to be even more…ahem…eye-catching.

I’m intrigued to see how man people will actually take part – I mean nude running has great comic potential.

If you fancy giving your white bits a bit of an airing and a run-out it’s €10 to take part. Don't forget to slap on plenty of suncream on sensitive bits.

I could get a fit of the giggles just thinking about it. I’ve got to go and get some pictures.

Date: 4th April

Place: Playa de la Tejita

Time: 10am

Fiestas on Tenerife – Easter on Tenerife; Semana Santa in La Laguna

It’s time to get the big pointy hats out on Tenerife – no it’s not carnaval, or Halloween and anyone expecting big Easter celebrations in the more traditional towns on Tenerife are going to be disappointed.

However, anyone wanting to witness a truly emotive event will be left breathless by the spectacle of the Semana Santa processions, especially in La Laguna. The city’s atmospheric historic streets are given added resonance when brotherhoods carrying full size crucifixes silently parade through them.

The most emotional events are the ‘Magna’ and ‘Silent’ processions on Viernes Santos (Good Friday) afternoon and evening respectively.

Date: Friday 2ndApril

Time: The Magna procession leaves the Iglesia de la Concepción at 17.00, the Silent procession sets off begins at 21.30

Concerts on Tenerife – Fundraising Concert "Refugiados en el Desierto"

With music by Schubert, Liszt, Wagner and a whole host of other classic composers, the fundraising concert in aid of people in refugee camps in the Western Sahara is not only guaranteed to be music to the ears it’s also for a very worthy cause.

Location: Auditorio de Santa Cruz

Date: Saturday, 20the March

Time: 9pm

Tickets: €15

Alicia Keys in Concert on Tenerife 2010

At last a big international name that isn’t actually at the point of drawing their pension or is past their best. I must admit to being sceptical when it was rumoured that Alicia Keys was performing in Tenerife, but sure enough the multi-talented beauty is going to turn the air of the capital, Santa Cruz, sweet with her music in June.

Date: 6th June 2010

Time: 9pm

Venue: Dársena Los Llanos at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Tickets: €35 & €60

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

Canarias Infinity Extreme 2010 in Puerto de la Cruz

‘It’s a Knockout’ comes to Puerto de la Cruz again this month as the Canarias Infinity Extreme event turns the car park beside the harbour into a giant obstacle course.

Contestants have to cover 10 kilometres and negotiate 15 obstacles (more than once) within two hours.

Judging by the grimaces on the faces of the contestants last year after they’d tackled water and foam-filled containers over and over again, this is a race only for the meanest and toughest competitors, well those and masochists.

Date: 13th March

Time: 4pm

Tenerife Roads Closed Due to Storm Damage Following Cyclone Xynthia

The Cabildo de Tenerife (Island Government) is currently working hard to clear the Teide Access road from La Orotava (from kilometre 19 to 22) to remove branches and fallen trees which were blown down by the gale force winds which hit the island over the weekend and mainly affected the higher ground. Hundreds of pine trees were uprooted by the wind and fell onto the road which means that the road will be closed to traffic from 08.00 to 15.00 hours from tomorrow [Tuesday 2nd March] and until the following Monday [8th March].

The TF-24 road which runs from La Laguna to El Portillo was reopened to traffic yesterday [Sunday 28th February] although the Cabildo is urging the general public to step up safety precautions when driving on this road.

The Cabildo hopes to be able to reopen the access road to Teide through Vilaflor (TF-21) in the next few days once the cleaning and restoration work to the unstable borders affected by the February storms has been completed.

Concerts on Tenerife – FMAC 2010; Rock in the Harbour, Puerto de la Cruz

Just in case you might be thinking that the music scene in Puerto de la Cruz might be a bit too refined (some may say sophisticated) for some, don’t be fooled. The highlight of the month for me is the free FMAC concert beside the harbour on Saturday 27th March from 9.00pm

For the grand amount of ‘nada’ you get not one, not two, but three bands - Link, The Mistake and Le Victor a.k.a Redcar.

Rock on Puerto!

Concerts on Tenerife – Jazz, Classical & 1001 Nights in Puerto de la Cruz

Some folks are under the impression that nightlife can be a bit limited in Puerto de la Cruz. The truth is that it’s not limited…it’s just different from the sort of nightlife that some visitors might be looking for.

If you’re a culture vulture with tastes which hunger for something substantial musically, then prepare to have a feast in Puerto de la Cruz during March.

The unique setting of the stunning Abaco Mansion is the venue for Jazz (the Jonay Martin Quartet, 10.30pm, 5th March: Memphis Blues Band, 10.30pm 12th March: Standard Time 10.30pm 19th March: Sweet Up Jazz Project, 10.30pm on 26th) and classical (Dúo Kovacs, 7.30pm on 7th March). All performances €9

In the centre of town, the elegantly stylish Centro Astoria-Bambi plays host to a series of classical and jazz performances on Saturdays (8.30pm) and Sundays (6.00pm) throughout the month. €5

El Castillo Espacio Cultural is another of the town’s beautiful settings for exhibitions, concerts and theatre performances and visitors are spoiled for choice in March.

If your German’s up to scratch then Scheherezade -1001 Nights is a classic story (8.30pm 6th March, €10).

Socos Duo fuse classical with experimental to create hypnotically beautiful music (13th March, 8.30pm).

Fans of classical guitar get their strings well and truly plucked with a concert at El Castillo (19th March, 8.30pm). Whilst more contemporary social issues are highlighted in the play, Ana Y La Vida about a young anorexic girl (20th March, 8.30pm, entrance free).

The month of culture at El Castillo ends with two FMAC (Festival de Músicas Alternativas de Canarias) performances by the Contemporary String Trio (25th, 9.00pm) and Satomi Moritomo (26th, 9.00pm)

And if all that wasn’t enough, the VIII Festival de Música Antigua y Barroca de Puerto de la Cruz. Begins at the end of the month with a perfomance by the Reyes Bartlet Choir at the Iglesia de la Peña de Francia (28th March, 8.30pm, €10) and some opera at the Taoro Congress Centre (31st, 9.00pm, €15)

Phew...

And More Good News – The Number of Tourists Visiting Tenerife Increased in January

Is it symbolic that as the storm clouds disappear over the horizon, the tourism figures show that the number of visitors to Tenerife in January 2010 rose compared with the same period in 2009.

Overall there was an increase of 2.36% with British, German and Scandinavian visitors all on the up.

The south of Tenerife showed a 2.72% increase, whilst the north enjoyed 3.25% more visitors than in January 2009.

Lets hope the trend continues.

Roads to Teide Re-open After the Storms and Snow

It’s good news bad news time. The Tenerife Government have just announced that all roads to Mount Teide are open, that’s the good news.

There is one road still closed and that’s the TF21 between Boca Tauce and El Portillo.

Unless I’m missing something, that’s the whole of the main road through the crater and past the cable car station.

That, you could say, is the bad news.

Carnaval on Tenerife - La Laguna, La Orotava, Los Cristianos & Los Gigantes

Although the Carnaval spotlight tends to fall on Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz, towns all over Tenerife hold Carnavals. Although in some places you’d never know it. La Laguna has just launched a new tourist website and guess what… no mention of their carnaval. The British Guild of Travel Writers who have just held their AGM on the island would be amazed at the number of ‘tricks missed’ when it comes to promoting events on the island. But gripes aside here are the dates for some other carnavals (I’ll add more if I manage to wheedle them out of an informant up a dark back alley – you think I’m joking?)

La Laguna – The theme is ‘rumoured’ to be Triton, King of the Seas and it will take place from the 13th to the 20th February.

Los Gigantes, Santiago del Teide – Another official ayuntamiento website which has overlooked including its carnaval details despite having main tourist resorts in their municipality. However the carnaval is due to take place in Los Gigantes between 26th February and 1st March.

Los Cristianos, Arona – Hat’s off to Arona Ayuntamiento who have included a full list of events on their website (the Spanish version anyway)

The theme is Viva Mexico and carnaval takes place between the 5th (election of the carnaval queen at 20.00 in the cultural centre) and 14th March 2010 (closing parade at 17.00). There are also open air dances on 13th and 14th as well.

La Orotava – God bless La Orotava. Tenerife’s classiest town knows that a website isn’t just for posting a smug looking photo of the mayor’s boat race (that’s ‘face’ - for anyone out there not au fait with Cockney rhyming slang).

With a Circus theme and a gorgeous poster, La Orotava’s carnaval runs from 13th February until 20th February. The highlights are the closing parade (from 16.30 on 16th February), the funeral procession and burning of…no not a giant sardine this time…St Crispin -don’t know what he did to upset the good people of La Orotava (21.00 on 17th February) and the end of carnaval dance (23.00 on the 20th February).

And don't forget to check out our Real Tenerife Carnaval page for tips on how to get the best out of carnaval

Carnaval on Tenerife 2010 - Puerto de la Cruz

Given the political shenanigans in Puerto de la Cruz this year and allegations of ‘black lists’ of workers who didn’t vote for the current council (that'll be the majority of people then), ‘masking up’ for Carnaval may feel closer to the fiesta’s roots this time around. Still that should make it even more fun and hopefully a bit anarchic.

Main Events

Thursday 11th February
21.00 - Election of the Carnaval Queen, Plaza de Europa.
Saturday 13th February
21.00 Opening Parade
22.30 - Grand Ball in Plaza del Charco, Calle La Marina and Calle Perdomo.
Sunday 14th February
Midday - Children’s Fancy Dress Competition, Plaza de Europa.
20.30 - Adult Fancy Dress Competition, Plaza de Europa.
22.00 - Grand Ball in Plaza del Charco, Calle La Marina and Calle Perdomo.
Monday 15 February
18.30 - “Matar la Culebra” (Kill the Snake)
22.30  - Grand Ball in Plaza del Charco, Calle La Marina and Calle Perdomo.
Tuesday 16th of February
13.00 - Antique Car Exhibition, Avenida Colon.
22.30 - Grand Ball in Plaza del Charco, Calle La Marina and Calle Perdomo.
Wednesday 17th February
21.00 - “Entierro de la Sardina” (Burial of the Sardine
23.00 - Grand Ball in Plaza del Charco, Calle La Marina and Calle Perdomo.
Friday 19th February
20.30 – Enrollment for the High Heels Marathon ‘Mascarita Ponte Tacon’ in Plaza del Charco.
22.00 – Start of the High Heels Marathon (yeah, maybe).
23.30 - Grand Ball in Plaza del Charco, Calle La Marina and Calle Perdomo.
Saturday 20th February
16.00 – Closing Parade
20.00 - Grand Ball in Plaza del Charco, Calle La Marina and Calle Perdomo.

Carnaval on Tenerife 2010 – Santa Cruz de Tenerife

It’s time to dig out those old clothes, rip up old curtains to make a sexy outfit and paint your face all the colours of the rainbow…or instead of dressing up for a normal Saturday night down the ‘patch’ in Las Américas, you could put on fancy dress and head to carnaval.
The biggest and the brashest is in the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife from Friday 12th February till Sunday the 21st. Officially it ends with the ‘Burial of the Sardine’ on Wednesday 17th February, but think of it a bit like a Quentin Tarantino movie and you should get the gist.

And great news, they did use the Chimp in the bikini poster after all.

Main Events

Wednesday 10th February
21:30 – Election of the Carnaval Queen, Internatiol Fair & Congress Centre
Friday 12th February
19:00 - Cabalgata Anunciadora (Opening Parade)
22:30 – Open air party in Plazas del Príncipe, Europa & La Candelaria
Saturday 13th February
20:00 - Mini Parade
22:30 – Open air party in Plazas del Príncipe, Europa & La Candelaria
Sunday 14th February
20:00 - Mini Parade
22:30 - Open air party in Plaza de La Candelaria
Monday 15th February
20:00 - Mini Parade
22:30 – Open air party in Plazas del Príncipe, Europa & La Candelaria
Tuesday 16th February
16:00 - Coso Apoteosis (Closing Parade)
22:30 - Open air party in Plaza de La Candelaria
21:00 – Firework display
Wednesday 17th February
21:00 - Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine)
22:30 - Open air party in Plaza de La Candelaria
Friday 19th February
22:30 – Open air party in Plazas del Príncipe, Europa & La Candelaria
Saturday 20th February
13:00 - Carnaval de Día – Carnaval of Colour
18.00 - Coso Infantil (Children’s Parade)
21:30 - Open air party in Plazas del Príncipe, Europa & La Candelaria
Sunday 21st February
10:00 – Antique car exhibition
17:00 – End of Carnaval Fiesta, Círculo de Amistad XII de Enero
22:00 - Open air party in Plaza de La Candelaria
21:30 – Firework display on Avenida Marítima

The Party’s Over in Puerto de la Cruz – Fiestas on Tenerife, Mueca 2010

Some bad news for aficionados of some of Puerto de la Cruz’s more contemporary fiestas; the surreal and wonderful street arts festival, Mueca won’t be taking place this year (2010). The other fiesta victim (at this point) is the Ecological Cine Festival.

Anyone who’s been in Puerto for the Mueca festival will know that it attracts thousands of people to the town and adds a modern flavour to Tenerife first city of tourism.

The reason for its temporary demise is said to be financial, but we’ll have to wait and see what else falls under the butcher of El Hierro’s cleaver.

It makes a bit of a mockery of those misguided newspaper reports who were crowing that with Marcos Brito getting back into power, things would start to get moving in the town.

The plaza café shut on New Year’s Eve because of a strike, Playa Jardín café and toilets shut for the same reason, fiestas cancelled…

I think I’d better revise my definition of ‘getting things moving’.

Fiestas on Tenerife – Fiestas de San Antonio Abad in Buenavista del Norte and La Matanza

If you want to see lots of people in traditional costume and a gathering of animals of such magnitude that you’ll be wondering if there’s an ark nearby, then La Matanza and Buenavista del Norte are the places to be over the next couple of weekends.

Buenavista del Norte holds their romería on the 17th January, but more interesting is the animal fair a week later on 24th (dates to be confirmed as the general fiesta info on Buenavista’s website says the fiesta takes place on the last two Sundays of January, but tradionally the romería de San Abad takes place on the Sunday closest to the 17th, and the Feria de Ganado a week later – which would make it on the 24th).

An even bigger animal gathering takes place in the highlands of La Matanza on the last three Sundays of January (17th, 24th & 31st). Oxen, horses, donkeys, goats, dogs, lizards, ferrets, rabbits and the occasional snake mingle with the crowds at this very, very traditional fiesta up in the northern hills. The main day, the Octava Ganadera takes place on the second Sunday.

Fiestas on Tenerife – Fiestas de San Sebastián in La Caleta, Adeje

It’s a different saint who’s being celebrated at Playa de la Enramada beside La Caleta in Adeje, but there are still animals involved.
Visitors to the plush hotels on the Costa Adeje side of Playa de la Enramada don’t often usually encounter much signs of Canarian culture on the upmarket resort’s streets. So it can come as a bit of a shock, and not necessarily a pleasant one going by some previous comments on some forums about Tenerife, when hordes of horsemen appear on the beach to ride their steeds into the sea.


God forbid that the real Tenerife should intrude on someone’s beach time.

For those wanting to experience a 'real' Tenerife experience, it's a fascinating sight.

Fiestas on Tenerife – Romería de San Antonio Abad in Arona

Next up for parades, dances firework displays and general all round fun is old Arona Town in the south of the island. The main romería takes place from the 17th January at midday, but there are events taking place all weekend.

Fiestas on Tenerife – Romería de San Antonio Abad in Los Realejos

The animals are out in force this month as the fiestas start to roll out thick and fast.

First off the mark is the Romería de San Antonio Abad in Tigaiga in Los Realejos on the 16th of January. Expect lots of people in costume, roaming bands of singers strumming their timples and a saint on a plinth.

Music on Tenerife - Monica Naranjo in Adeje

Some people regularly ask why there aren’t more big names in music playing concerts on Tenerife. The easy answer is that there are, but if you’re British, they might not be a big name to you.

Spanish singer Monica Naranjo has sold millions of records in Spain, the United States and in Latin America, but somehow I don’t see the streets of Las Américas emptying of tourists when she plays the Magma Arte & Congresos Centre in Adeje later this month (that’s the Las Américas part of Adeje for all you out there who, like me, are no longer sure what is Adeje and what is Las Americas).

Date: Saturday 23rd January

Venue: Magma Arte & Congresos, Adeje (just beside the Las Américas bus station)

Time: 9.30pm

Tickets: €32 to €42

Music on Tenerife – 50 Cent in Tenerife

Now that the Christmas period is over and the Three Kings and their camels have trotted into the sunset, we can get back to finding out what interesting events, concerts and fiestas are coming Tenerife’s way in 2010.

It’ll cost a lot more than 50 Cents to get in and see the famous and  sometimes controversial US rapper 50 Cent, but at least you’ve got time to save up the centimos as his concert doesn’t take place until March

Date: Saturday, 27th March

Venue: Recinto Ferial, Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Time: 7pm

Tickets: €30 to €60

Buy tickets here