Christmas on Tenerife – Santa Cruz

This Christmas the streets of Santa Cruz will be filled with music as there are live performances nearly every night at 7pm and Christmas concerts at the weekends.  If you enjoy a bit of outdoor sax (I said sax before anyone gets too excited), head along to Plaza del Chicharro at 7pm on the 16th December. With theatre and dance performances in the city's plazas throughout the month the capital is set to resemble the scene of a musical all over the festive season. Don’t forget to check out the belén in the town hall, or to pick up some last minute gifts (if you’re handing over pressies on Christmas Day rather than Tres Reyes) at the Christmas market at Avenida Marítima from the 21st December.

The big events in Santa Cruz are, as always, the Christmas Day concert held at the port at 10pm (although the ayuntamiento haven’t mentioned it in their agenda this year even though they have a generic entry for it on their web site as does the Port authorities, but as this is Tenerife who knows if it’s happening or not); the big end of year party on New Year’s Eve from 11pm in Calle La Noría (is there a more picturesque setting on Tenerife to see out the old year?); and party time in CD Tenerife’s football stadium as the Tres Reyes hit town in style on the 5th January at 5pm.

Check out the full agenda here (in Spanish).

Events on Tenerife – 12th Adeje Theatre and Dance Festival

For anyone who thinks that the south of Tenerife is all English breakfasts and beer at a euro a pint, here’s the chance to discover otherwise with some excellent contemporary dance and theatre taking place in Adeje during November.

Perormances
Saturday, 31st October,  19:30,  - Garoé, Plaza César Manrique, Adeje
Friday 6th November, 21:00, - Impresiones, Cultural Centre, Adeje
Friday 13th November, 21:00, - Luz más luz, Cultural Centre Adeje
Friday 20th November, 21:00, - La Loca de la casa, Cultural Centre Adeje
Friday 27th November, 21:00, - El Sexo Sentido, Cultural Centre Adeje

Tickets are available from the Cultural Centre in Adeje and cost €6

Of course, there are those that are bound to say, ‘stuff that, I’d rather have the English breakfasts and pints of beer at a euro?”

Festivals on Tenerife – 14 Festival MasDanza

It’s dance yourself dizzy time on Tenerife, or at very least it’s watch participants from all over the World dance themselves dizzy at the 14th MasDanza Festival in Santa Cruz.

Over the course of two days, dancers from Japan, China, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Portugal and Macedonia are set to whirl, twirl and perform moves that’ll make your eyes water at The Auditorio de Tenerife and the Teatro Victoria.

Dates: 25th and 26th October

Location: Auditorio de Tenerife, Santa Cruz (25th) & Teatro Victoria, Santa Cruz (26th)

Times: 19.30 (25th), 21.00 (26th)

Fiestas on Tenerife – Fiestas Patronales de Adeje (Virgen de La Encarnación)

If you can’t take Mohammed to the mountain…

The resort of Costa Adeje isn’t particularly a stronghold of Canarian culture, but visitors should be able to get a taste of the real Tenerife without having to stray too far from their sun beds during October when Adeje holds its Fiestas in honour of the Virgen de La Encarnación. Admittedly most of the events take place in the old town, but some make their way to the coast including the ‘sortija de caballos’ on Saturday 17th October when local horsemen ride their steeds into the sea next to the municipal swimming pool at around 16.00.
Other events include parades, a romería, concerts, firework displays and open air dances (all in Adeje town).

Dates: 3rd to 18th October

Highlights:
10th – A full programme of events, the highlight being the parade in Calle Grande at 21.00 followed by a verbena (that's Spanish for party with music & wine) at 23.00.
17th – Day of Traditions and Folklore. The Sortija de Caballeros at 16.00 is followed by a folklore concert and another ‘verbena’ at the recinto ferial in adeje from 21.00.

See Full Agenda Here.

Festivals on Tenerife – Perrada Fest ’09, El Sauzal

The end of September/ beginning of October sees the emergence of some great little fringe festivals. This one is for the true fiesta die-hards as it takes place at Ravelo (where?) in El Sauzal.

Organised by ADEPAC (Association for the Defence and Protection of Animals in the Canaries) it’s a festival with a very good cause as its raison d’être and all proceeds will go to helping animals.

The fun kicks off at 13.00 and the event includes sets from 12 bands as well as theatre and dance performaces.

Date: Saturday, 3rd October

Tickets: €10

Fiestas on Tenerife - The Fiestas del Santísimo Cristo, La Laguna

There are too many events taking place as part of The Fiestas del Santísimo Cristo in La Laguna to list. Apart from the usual processions, there are classical concerts, the famous annual Sabandeño performance, comedy nights, musicals, galas, flower battles in the streets, art exhibitions, parades, firework displays, Dance Festivals (including a homage to Michael Jackson), rock concerts, pop concerts and a folk concert with the lovely Alba Pérez and as they say, much, much more.

I’m guessing that not a lot of work is going to get done in La Laguna during September.

Highlights

5th September – XXXI Sabadeño Festival, Plaza del Cristo, 21.30

12th September – Battle of the Flowers, Around the old city streets, 18.00

13th September – La Pandorga Cabalgata, traditional parade from Iglesia de la Concepción, 20.00

14th September – Main Firework display with fireworks from 3 factories followed by a dance, Plaza del Cristo, Midnight.

15th September – Dance Festival featuring Sleeping Beauty and a homage to Michael Jackson, Plaza del Cristo, 21.00

16th September – Rock Festival with La Vieja Morla, Oi Se Arma and Perro Cruz, Plaza del Cristo, 21.00

17th September – Folk Festival with Alba Pérez, Plaza del Cristo, 21.00

19th September – Pop Festival with La Sonrisa de Julia, Plaza del Cristo, 21.00

25th September – Heineken Campus Rock with El Canto del Loco, Taxi, Sidonie and Nena Daconte, 21.00

Festivals on Tenerife – Nuestra Señora de la Luz, Los Silos

The Fiestas de la Luz started in August, but the main events take place during September. Despite being one of the North West coast’s most picturesque towns, Los Silos still doesn’t really make it on to the tourist trail (probably because tour buses can’t negotiate its narrow streets). Quite a bohemian little town, fiestas here are full of creativity and unique touches; the town’s biggest fiesta lasts from 1st August till mid September with the main events taking place this coming weekend.

Friday 4th September, Traditional Music Festival, 2100, Municipal Auditorium

Saturday 5th September, exhibition of traditional games and sports in Plaza de la Luz, 11.00: Art and Music Festival followed by a dance, Plaza de la Luz, 22.00

Sunday 6th September, Dog Show, Juan Valiente stadium, 11.00: Children’s Day, Plaza de la Luz, 16.00, Concert - 5 Centuries of Music, San Sebastián Convent, 19.30

Monday 7th September, Grand Dance from Midnight in Plaza de la Luz

Tuesday 8th September, closing parade, 17.00 followed by music and dance concert at 21.00

Clubbing Tenerife – Inspiración 2009, Puerto de la Cruz

It’s getting a bit confusing in Puerto de la Cruz at the moment. I can just about keep up to date with the dance festivals every couple of weeks, but when one’s called Innovation and another’s called Inspiración (subtitled Festivel de los Sentidos), I start getting them muxed ip (must be my age).

Inspiración is the one taking place in the wonderful Lago Martiánez on Puerto’s promenade; hard to think of a more inspirational venue on Tenerife.

Lining up at the soul stage are Bobby Bob, B’Funk, delaFUNK, Ket Shah, Alan Arscott DJ A.K.A, and Simbad.

At the Alternative Music stage are Momdobon, Red Car, Jeff Automatic, Scott Huntley and Gilles Petterson.

And pumping up the volume on the House stage are Groovalia, David Castellano, Alan Arscott DJ A.K.A, Exhibición Natación Sincronizada (I’m guessing here, but I reckon this one will take place in one of the pools –synchronized swimming on dry land just doesn’t have the same impact), Simbad, Ket Shah and Rainer Trueby.

I haven’t a clue who any of them are (that’s a lie, I do know Bobby Bob, but I’ve never heard him DJ), but the music is guaranteed to make the hot summer’s night even hotter.

Date: 8th August

Times: The clubbing fest gets going from 19.00 until 03.00

Pick up your ticket at:

Monkey Beach - Playa de Troya, Costa Adeje
Discos Sonora - Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Casa de la Juventud de Puerto de la Cruz
Viajes RudyTour SL - La Orotava
Lago Martíanez - Puerto de la Cruz

Ticket Price: With typical Tenerife ‘mas o menos’ consistency, the lovely Inspirations website has all you need to know about the event except the price of the ticket…Oy vey. I’ll check out a poster when I’m in town this afternoon and add it when I get back.

Dance on Tenerife – Ballet, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Ana Laguna

If you’re like me and you’re knowledge of ballet is on a level with your knowledge of how to split the atom, if asked to name one famous male ballet dancer you’d probably come up with Mikhail Baryshnikov.

He’s the Mick Jagger of the dance world and his presence, along with dance partner Ana laguna, at the Auditorio in dance terms is akin to Rod Stewart playing a golf course in Adeje. He might not have the flexibility he once had, but his mastery of his art is still compelling to watch and he’s a legend of ballet; such is his charisma that he even ‘copped off’ with Carrie Bradshaw in 'Sex and the City' and if that doesn’t make you an icon I don’t know what does.

Location: Auditorio de Santa Cruz

Date: 29th June

Time: 21.00

Tickets: €30: Click here to buy online

Concerts on Tenerife – Tensamba

May is the month to go Brazilian on Tenerife; before you misunderstand I said ‘go’ Brazilian, not get a Brazilian; although with the temperatures heating up and more beach time beckoning it might not be a bad idea.

Santa Cruz, La Laguna, Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava and El Sauzal are all set to sizzle to the hot sound of that samba beat when the Festival of Brazilian Music bumps up the temperature a couple of notches.

Artists, Dates & Venues:

Adriana Calconhotto – 3 rd May, Teatro Leal, La Laguna at 21.00
Hamilton de Holanda & Marcos Suzano – 9th May, Teatro Leal, La Laguna, 21.00
Paulinho Lêmos – 13th May, Casino de Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, 21.00
Noche Brasileña – 15th May, Balcón del Valle, La Orotava, 21.00
Maria Rita – 16th May, Auditorio de Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, 21.00
Alessandro Penezzi – 23rd May, Auditorio de El Sauzal, El Sauzal, 21.00
Batucada & Casuarina performance – 24th May, outside Casa Aduana, Puerto de la Cruz, 16.00
Fiestas Tensamba – 7th May, Txola, La Laguna, 22.00

Tickets: Through the Tensamba website

Fiestas on Tenerife - The 2nd Festival Folclórico Verodal

Fancy a knees up Tinerfeño style? The old southern town of Arona plays host to the 2nd Verodal folklore festival. Groups from La Orotava, La Palma and Arona are putting on a show of the type of singing and dancing enjoyed in traditional towns across the Canary Islands during fiestas. Very different from the bright lights and tribute acts in the municipality’s tourist mecca of Playa de las Américas on the coast.

Place: Plaza de Iglesia, Arona

Date: 25th April

Time: 21.00

Entry: Free