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.

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.

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

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

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!

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

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).

Christmas on Tenerife – La Orotava

La Orotava, Tenerife’s classiest town is second only to La Laguna when it comes to cultural events… and not by far.

This year’s festival calendar includes music in the streets most nights between 6pm and 8pm; Tenerife’s biggest life-size belén filling much of the plaza outside the town hall; saxophone and folklore concerts; art exhibitions (‘Mi Alma al Desnudo’ looks particularly interesting at the Casa de la Cultura de San Agustín between 23/12 and 08/01) and a science fair (also at the Casa de la Cultura; on 12th and 13th from 10am).

The big Christmassy feel event is the concert in the Iglesia de la Concepción on the 19th at 8.30pm featuring the sweet voices of more than 10 choirs.

Another for aficionados of local heroes to look out for is the concert by Benito Cabrero at the Auditoio de Teobaldo Power at 8.30pm on the 18th. This man has enthralled New York’s Carnegie Hall with his timple playing skills.


See full agenda here.

Christmas on Tenerife – Guia de Isora

A lot of the festive activities in Guia de Isora centre around children with mini fairs taking place in towns and hamlets throughout the month; activities for the little ones also bizarrely include some belly dancing lessons. There are also Christmas parades and concerts in churches and in the Auditorio de Guia de Isora on various dates.

The Gran Cabalgata de Reyes takes place on the 5th January 2010 in Guia de Isora from 7pm

See full agenda of events here.

Christmas on Tenerife – Puerto de la Cruz

Christmas in Puerto de la Cruz is always a magical time. The bright neon lights of the funfair liven up the car park beside the harbour and Christmas street lights turn the plazas and old streets into an enchanting winter wonderland.

As for events, look out for concerts in the Centro Astoria-Bambi (12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 26th, 27th) at around €5 a ticket and if you’re German speaking, the interpretation of Sherezade – 1001 Nights is always interesting to watch (Castillo San Felipe: Friday 11th at 8.30pm, €10).

To get right into the Christmas spirit, don’t miss either of the Christmas concerts performed by the Reyes Bartlet Choir in the Iglesia de la Peña de Francia on the 20th (7.30pm) and 23rd (8.30pm) or the traditional midnight mass, ‘Misa de Gallo’ in the same church on Christmas Eve.

Christmas on Tenerife – Adeje

Cultural overdoses, choir singing and Christmas concerts aren’t just confined to the north at Christmas; the south also has its fair share, especially around the older historic towns.

Visitors to Adeje town should pop into the cultural centre after the 4th of the month to have a look at a traditional Spanish nativity scene, the belén. These are really worth seeing.

Gospal fans are spoiled with two free concerts also at the cultural centre on the 4th at 8pm (with the group Aba Taano) and the 6th at half past midday (with Bridget Bazile). Both concerts are part of the IV Canaries International Gospel Festival.

Any visitors to Costa Adeje with children should definitely not miss out on the Gran Cabalgata de Reyes (Three Kings Parade) on January 5th at 8pm in Calle Grande Adeje. The children will love it and it’ll feel like Christmas all over again.

See full agenda here.

Christmas on Tenerife – Santiago del Teide

There are a couple of nice little events taking place in Santiago del Teide, particularly in Los Gigantes.

The turning on of the lights of the ‘arbol de luz’ on the 5th at 8pm in Plaza Bouganvillea in Los Gigantes sounds lovely, especially as it’s followed by a gospel performance by the Rainbow Gospel Choir.

The same plaza is also the scene for the Christmas concert at 8pm on the 19th and for the big end of the year party from 11pm on the 31st December.

The Three Kings are busy bees in Santiago as their Gran Cabalgata de los Reyes Mago de Oriente takes place on January 5th at 5.30pm in Arguayo, 7pm in Tamaimo and then leaves Plaza Pública in Puerto Santiago for Los Gigantes at 8.30pm.

Poor old Santiago del Teide town has to wait till midday on the 6th January before the Three Kings turn up there.

See full agenda here.

Christmas on Tenerife – San Cristóbal de La Laguna

La Laguna, the cultural heart of Tenerife never fails to disappoint with the range of activities which take place over the Christmas season. With concerts, choir singing in the plazas, theatre and ballet in Teatro Leal and some of the old streets being decked out to look like a medieval market, there is something happening every day between now and the Three Kings arrival at Los Rodeos Airport on the 5th January.

The pick of events are the concerts by the London BBC Symphony Chorus at the Teatro Leal at 9pm on the 11th and 12th December.

Other highlights include the Gospel Canaries performance, also at the Teatro Leal at 9pm on the 14th; the Christmas brass band concert in Plaza de la Concepción at 7pm on the 18th; the end of year party on the 31st and the Three Kings parade on the 5th of January from around 6.30pm.

The weekends either side of Christmas are jam packed with events so check out the full agenda here.

Events on Tenerife – Granadilla con Vive 09

As the title suggests, a lively day is in store in the old town of Granadilla de Abona.  It sounds like a sort of mini WOMAD (a very mini one) with dancing, ethnic music, food from around the globe, stories and henna tattoos.

Date: Saturday 5th December

Time: From 11am to 8pm

Place: Plaza de la Cultura, the Cultural Centre, San Isidro

Christmas on Tenerife – Arona (Los Cristianos)

So what does Christmas have in store for Arona? Quite a lot if you happen to be in Los Cristianos. If you’re in Las Américas… well at least there are plenty bars with entertainment to get you into the Christmas spirit there.

Much of the action centres around the cultural centre in Los Cristianos and things really kick off on the 3rd when the Christmas lights are switched on (8.30pm) and the belén and is opened to the public (9.15pm).

After that, there’s theatre in the streets for the children; music and dance in the Plaza de la Iglesia in Los Cristianos as part of the Festival de Lirico (9pm on 11th); Gospel concert with the Georgia Mass Choir (Los Cristianos cultural centre, 9pm, 13th); Christmas concerts by Arona’s School of Music and Dance – also in the cultural centre in Los Cristianos (17th at 6.30pm, 19th at 8pm and 20th at midday).

The big end of the year party takes place in the Recinto Ferial deLos Cristianos from 10pm on the 31st, but there’ll be plenty of fun to be had on the streets as well.

The parade of the festive season, the Three Kings Parade leaves from Los Cristianos port towards the cultural centre at 7.15pm on the 5th January – don’t let your children miss it.

See full agenda here.

Fiestas on Tenerife: Shake, Rattle and Roll – It’s San Andrés

Don’t forget that we have wino weekend coming up this fin de semana (I only wrote that so I didn’t need to write weekend twice) otherwise known as the celebrations in honour of San Andrés.

It’s a great excuse to pop open a bottle of new wine, which is what the fiesta is all about, and sink a few… well it would be rude not to and when in Rome and all that.

Celebrations take place in towns all over Tenerife, but the two stand out places are Puerto de la Cruz where you can test wine from all over the valley at the wine fair on the harbour, or grab a table and order a poke of chestnuts and try to listen to some traditional Canarian bands whilst kids drag anything from coke cans to washing machines across the cobbles – follow this link if you want to find out why.

The other choice venue is Icod de los Vinos which becomes Tenerife’s extreme sports capital for a couple of days when local lads, and occasional lassies, take to using trays to get from the top of Icod’s steep streets to the bottom in record breaking, and potentially bone breaking, time.

Events take place in Puerto from the 27th November with the main celebrations taking place on the evening of Saturday 29th November.