In this article We invite you to learn about the traditions and popular festivals of Gran Canaria. We will review the most important festivals and events that take place each year on the island. Here we go!
Popular festivals in Gran Canaria (and other annual events)
Firstly, You should know that Canary Islands Day is celebrated every May 30 and, therefore, this day is a holiday throughout the archipelago. On the other hand, There are a series of popular festivals and events that attract local, national and international visitors every year.. Below, we are going to mention them to you in case your visit to Gran Canaria coincides with any of these and you would like to mix with us (the locals).
1. Festival of La Rama – August 4, 2024, Agaete
The branch es one of the parties most important popular in the Canary Islands. Each 4 August This traditional festival of Gran Canaria attracts thousands of people to the town of Agaete and its Puerto de Las Nieves. This popular celebration has taken place for hundreds of years and was organized to "invoke" the scarce rains. It consisted mainly of ascending on foot tamadaba to collect branches and once in Puerto de Las Nieves, whip the branches into the sea. This is how the call for rain was made. That's where the names of the festival "brought from La Rama" and "Bajada de La Rama" come from, since the aborigines climbed the mountain through the Agaete Valley in search of the branches.
To this day this festival is still celebrated with different food and drink stalls and music throughout the town. People dance to the sound of the Agaete Band, drink, eat and bathe in the sea. You should know that today many locals follow the tradition of walking up to pick the branches in Tamadaba. If it is your first time in this municipality, we have a guide on the essentials what to see in Agaete.
2. The Bringing of Water or Water Festival, Telde (this 2024 will not be celebrated)
En Telde the popular festival known as the Bringing of Water. This celebration was also related to “invoking rain.” Nowadays this popular festival has become more of a water festival. Here attendees get wet with buckets and water guns and other nifty dipping items. During the party it is done a walking tour to the irrigation canal and the Basilica of the Virgin while throwing water and dancing to the sound of the town band. The water festival is normally celebrated on weekend following Las Nieves day and always on a Sunday. That is, the first or second Sunday in August.
3. The “Vará del Pescao” – Friday, August 30, 2024, Arinaga
This party is celebrated the last Friday of August next to the beach of arinaga, in the municipality of Agüimes. The “Vará del Pescao” is a seafaring procession and is celebrated in honor of the fishermen of the area.. Apparently, every time the sailors came to Los Pescadores Avenue from fishing, They called neighbors using conch shells to come see the fresh product and buy it..
The procession is marked by a boat in which sardines are roasted to share with everyone who accompanies them dancing. The route leaves from Green Crag and runs through the entire Arinaga avenue. Next to the beach, small groups of friends and families form where they dance and share food and drink.. We recommend you attend the party in traditional sailor clothing.
4. Pine Festival – September 7 and 8, 2024, Teror
Another popular festival well known in the Islands is that of the patron saint of the island of Gran Canaria en Teror. This is the Virgen del Pino and her day is September 8. The festival is traditionally religious and consists of walking to the Basilica of Teror from different municipalities of the island to visit the virgin. This is, pilgrims come to Teror walking as a promise for the Virgin Of the pine. Normally, the locals tend to go up to Teror the day before the 8th. That is, September 7. Although Pine Day is the 8th.
To this day, this tradition continues to be preserved and many walk up even barefoot. Others go in groups of friends of all ages. As in all parties, alcohol is present and many even drink along the entire way. When you arrive at the town there are several stalls with traditional food. The protagonist is the chorizo sandwich Teror which many take as a reward upon arrival. During these festivals in the town there are also usually different music stands and festivals. The most frequented towns to walk to Teror They are those of San Lorenzo and Tamaraceite next to the edge of the road. The duration of the path is approximately 3 hours.
5. El Charco Festival – Wednesday, September 11, 2024, La Aldea de San Nicolás
The El Charco festival is another of the most relevant popular festivals in Gran Canaria. And this celebration also has an important tradition. Formerly the aborigines of The Village of San Nicolás and other surrounding areas of Gran Canaria They concentrated around El Charco applying a special fishing technique known as the embarked. This technique consisted of poison the water of the puddle with the sap of Canarian plants such as tabaiba or cardón to sedate the fish and be able to catch them more easily.
Nowadays, Every September 11 at 17:00 p.m. the mayor of La Aldea launches a flyer (rocket) to indicate that you can now run to the puddle to fish. That is, everyone who is surrounding the puddle They run to the water to fish with the help of baskets and other utensils. Finally everyone ends dancing and getting each other wet. These days La Aldea is filled with corners with music and food and drink stalls to have a good time.
6. The Cursed Dog – September 28, 2024, Valsequillo
Every September 28 at night it is celebrated the Cursed Dog festival in the town of Valsequillo. This event consists of a series of theatrical performances simulating hell with the devil as the protagonist. Interpretations are usually carried out the young people of the town and their mission is to scare those who come to this meeting tonight. Normally there is usually stilt walkers, parades, hanging dancers, etc A real spectacle. Years ago there were even fire spits, until a serious accident occurred during one edition. Nowadays the party follows all the protocols and is very fun. There is also several music stands, beach bars and festivals at night.
At 00:00 at night the fireworks show of the famous Valsequillo fireworks company “San Miguel”. On Thursday of the week before the Cursed Dog, The young people organize the famous Miguelito Pub in the town square. To enter you have to bring various coins. That is, if the entry fee is €2, in order to access they will ask you for coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents until they reach €2. Of course, in the way they establish. Recently, they have also incorporated the Miguelón Pub, for over 30 years. It is celebrated the Friday before San Miguel. With which, this 2024 would be 20/09 Miguelito and 21/09 Miguelón.
7. Descent of Gofio – September 28, 2024, Agüimes (confirmed)
The last week of September takes place in Agüimes the traditional festival known as the 'Bringing of gofio and water'. This The festival recalls an ancient ritual from post-war times, when locals walked to the outskirts of town to roast and grind corn and make gofio. Once achieved, they returned to the town carrying the bags of gofio and collecting water from the fountains and irrigation ditches on their way.
Today, this tradition lives on. The walk takes place to the rhythm of a cheerful music band that leads to the Plaza de Nuestra Señora del Rosario. Once in the town, an aquatic show takes place, with buckets of water thrown from the heights of rooftops and balconies, creating a fun combination of water and gofio. The celebration continues with a vibrant dance in the square.
8. Almond Blossom Festival, Tejeda, Valsequillo and Tunte
La almond blossom festivals They are also very loved among Gran Canarian people. These are celebrated in the municipalities of Tejeda, Valsequillo and Tunte. He The main attraction of these festivals is to appreciate the beauty of the flowering of the almond trees during the months of February and March. The dates of the celebration vary and each weekend they take place in a different town. During these festivals there are usually stalls selling Canarian products (food and crafts), folklore groups and different kinds of activities highlighting the customs and traditions of the Canary Islands.
There are other popular festivals in Gran Canaria such as La Manzana festival in Valleseco or the festivals of the virgin of La Cuevita in Artenara. Numerous events also take place throughout the year. pilgrimages in Gran Canaria, you can check the calendar of the most important ones on our blog.
Events in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
On the other hand, you should know that in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria three major events are held throughout the year. These are the founding celebrations of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, WOMAD and the Carnivals.
✔ Partiesfounding of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
The founding festivities of the capital take place every June with a clear protagonist: the night of San Juan. Every June 23 at night, hundreds of people gather at the Las Canteras beach to celebrate this holiday. Locals usually gather by the sea on San Juan's Eve, setting up a small picnic/beach bar to celebrate this day. The tradition is to end the day with a night swim in the sea and at 00:00 at night the fireworks begin..
✔ WOMAD
WOMAD is a music, art and dance festival that brings together different artists from the international scene every year. in Las Palmas. This festival has usually been celebrated in Santa Catalina Park for more than 25 years, so we can now consider it as part of our festivities.
✔ Carnival in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (and Maspalomas)
Likewise, every February (the dates change every year), the capital's carnivals are celebrated and the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Carnival 2024 Program. The Carnivals have several relevant days of celebration with a clear protagonist among the locals: the Drag Queen Gala. Equally, We highlight the day of the Great Parade, the Carnival by day and, finally, Los Indianos. The night of Los Indianos You should wear white and get good glasses, a mask and talcum powder.. It's a talcum powder war to the sound of music! The rest of the Carnival nights People dress up and go out to party or just have a drink..
On the other hand, a few weeks after the Las Palmas carnivals, the Maspalomas Carnival 2024. Here we also highlight the Drag Gala, Carnival Thursday and the afternoon of the Great Parade that runs through the entire tourist area of English beach. Here Locals from all the municipalities of the island gather dressed in costumes on floats organized by companies and groups of friends. If you want to join the party, Put on your best costume and go out into the street to dance next to the float you like the most.
Other parties or events in Gran Canaria
✔ Gay Pride Maspalomas – May
Finally, we do not want to fail to mention another relevant festival that takes place in Gran Canaria and that is becoming more and more relevant in the world: it is the Gay Pride Maspalomas. The Gay Pride is celebrated in the south of the island every May. If you didn't know, Gran Canaria has an important link with the LGTBI community and, in fact, receives thousands of tourists from this segment throughout the year. Many visit the island coinciding with this event to celebrate Gay Pride. Both members of the LGTBI community and not attend this party, since fun is guaranteed.
We hope this information has been useful to you. Which popular festival do you prefer? Do you need to visit any? Have we missed any events that we should mention?
Gran Canaria Guides
Finally, if it is your first time on the island, know that we have some perfect travel guides to discover what to see in Gran Canaria on your own. Plus, you'll save a lot of time planning places to see and where to eat. You can see them all below.
Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.
Very useful information to socialize and disconnect from work routines.
Thank you very much
They continue on that path
Thank you very much.
Enjoyable and interesting information.
Hello José Antonio! Thanks to you! All the best