Experience the 2nd best carnival in the world in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Come to the island of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and discover its popular and honourable Carnival, internationally considered to be the second best in the world, after the one held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The wide variety of celebrations, parades, competitions, galas, orchestras, attractions, games and food stalls, will make you enjoy a formidable atmosphere, breaking all your expectations.
Without a doubt, this festival of International Tourist Interest is in great demand, both by Canarian residents and by many foreigners, which makes it aspire, today, to become a World Heritage Site.
It is also worth mentioning the great diversity of famous singers who have attended this festival, such as Celia Cruz with the orchestra Billo's Caracas Boys (1987), Juan Luis Guerra (2019), among others.
For this reason, through this post, we will give you the opportunity to learn first hand, many relevant aspects that you can not miss when attending this great event celebrating Carnival in the Canary Islands.
If you want to live a sublime and totally unforgettable experience, surrounded by thousands of people in costume who take to the streets every year for more than a week, these are more than enough reasons for you not to think twice and immerse yourself in this majestic celebration. You won't regret it!
What background knowledge should you have about the history of the 2nd best Carnival in the world in Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Since 1962, year after year, a Carnival poster has been created for each edition, in which the proposed theme is reflected, in order to inspire many people, who dedicate months to the creation of their exclusive and striking costume.
It is worth mentioning artists such as Juan Galarza, Gurrea, Javier Mariscal, Paco Martínez, among others, who have done the same.
It is also worth bearing in mind that the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival has a variety of main stages, located in different squares (La Candelaria, El Príncipe, Europa, etc.), which makes this event even more lively and recognised, as each one has different musical styles, with the option of choosing, according to your preferences, the one you want to stay in.
It is also worth mentioning one of the main streets of the carnival "Calle San José".
Therefore, I invite you to take a look at this famous, popular and well-known event, in order to appreciate the culture, history, art, folklore and gastronomy, from another, more festive perspective.
Below is a list of 12 key tics to consider if you decide to venture into this spectacular Carnival.
The Carnival House
This infrastructure, inaugurated in 2017, is known as a museum dedicated to this popular celebration, which is located in the municipality of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
It should be noted that this milestone is aimed at four target groups: tourists, the carnival community, specialists and researchers, and the general public.
In it, we can see a variety of costumes and outstanding elements in the field of carnival; a centre for documentation and research into carnival heritage; and a space for workshops and dynamic activities.
Without a doubt, the digital applications available in this place will make the person who is about to visit it feel a very gratifying experience.
The Announcing Cavalcade
This celebration takes place on Friday, and once the night is over, the street party officially begins.
In it, we can see all the carnival groups that go through the streets of the city, communicating the arrival of Carnival.
We will also have the chance to see the queen and the ladies of honour on their own floats, escorted by the comparsas, the murgas and so on.
This route starts at the Parque de la Granja and ends at the Plaza de España.
The Great Coso Apotheosis
This event takes place on Tuesday. It is a parade along the Avenida de Anaga, which officially marks the end of Carnival. What a choreographic festival!
Once again, the carnival groups, floats, queens, etc. parade again, but this time during the day and in an exhibition held especially for tourists arriving by bus from the most touristy areas of the islands.
The Day Carnival
It is worth noting that the Day Carnival, inaugurated in 2008, is now a well-established and very successful activity, with many people attending.
This event is geared more towards families, due to its daytime schedule.
It should be noted that the carnival has two days at its disposal: the first Sunday of the festival and 'Piñata' Saturday, which refers to the last weekend.
Carnival by Night
With reference to this celebration, it is necessary to bear in mind that the dates of its development are Saturday and Monday, considered "strong days of Carnival" or "definitivedays of Carnival ".
It is one of the most popular carnival nights where the streets of Santa Cruz fill up to dance the night away.
It is also a day dedicated exclusively to dancing. There are 2 main stages: one located in the Plaza de la Candelaria, and the other in the Plaza del Príncipe.
There are many kiosks and tobacconists where you can buy whatever you want at any time.
to follow on your holidays?
Don't miss the Carnival Queen GalaExperience & Private Backstage Tour
This Senda includes a tour of the city with the tourist bus, a visit to the headquarters of the participating Carnival groups and exclusive access to the backstage area of the Queen candidates to see their costumes up close.
If you want to live a unique and sustainable experience, and also enjoy the Carnival experience in a different way, book before the Carnival Queen Galais sold out.
The Burial of the Sardine
This spectacle is held on Ash Wednesday. It consists of dressing in mourning clothes to accompany a large cardboard sardine, which will later be burnt.
During the tour, you can hear the desperate cries of the widows, because of the death of the sardine.
It should also be noted that this figure is made by the inmates of Tenerife II prison.
Piñata Saturday and Sunday
As far as this celebration is concerned, it is convenient to know that it is the celebration that puts an end to Carnival, until next year.
Piñata Saturday, coinciding with the daytime carnival, has increased the number of people attending in recent decades, to the point of having internationally renowned performances.
And on Piñata Sunday, there will be an antique car competition and the traditional performance of the NiFú-NiFá Philharmonic.
Then it all comes to an end with a pyrotechnic display.
Comparsas
It is worth noting that the comparsas are an icon of the great festival.
Some of them are Los Rumberos, Los Danzarines Canarios, Los Joroperos, Los Cariocas, Los Tabajaras, Bahía Bahitiare, Tropicana, Los Brasileiros, Río Orinoco and Los Valleiros.
In addition, if you are a dance lover, you should know that you can attend a competition called "rhythm and harmony", where you will be able to appreciate the great diversity of comparsas, which perform at the Tenerife fairgrounds.
Don't hesitate to come and dance to the rhythm of the son! Experience the "comparsas" competitions!
Floats
If you are passionate about decoration, you can't miss certain events, such as:
The announcing cavalcade or the "coso apoteósico", since, in these two celebrations, you will have the opportunity to see many floats of different styles and colours, which will undoubtedly be of great interest to you.
If you look at the picture, it is "la carroza el Merengazo", designed by Juan Fajardo Hernández, which has a long history in the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
You can also find many of them at the carnival by night, on San José street, the meeting point for them.
Murgas
If you're passionate about singing and the replicas, you can't miss the competition of the murgas, both children and adults, which takes place year after year at the fairgrounds, belonging to the municipality of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Murgas are music bands that play rudimentary instruments and sing songs mocking social and political reality.
It is worth mentioning some prestigious murgas such as Los Bambones, Los Diablos Locos, Los Mamelucos, Los Zeta-Zetas, La Traviata, among others.
Queen's Election Galas
On the Wednesday before the Carnival weekend, the adult Queen of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is chosen, in a gala that is broadcast to the whole country where the announcer of the Carnival of the year will be announced.
The candidates present themselves to a panel of judges who assess their presence, attitude and the costume, which weighs around 150-200 kilos, and which they use wheels to transport.
It should be noted that the cost of the costumes is too high, so the candidates need a sponsor.
The costumes are usually made of feathers, plastic, metal and very beautiful and exclusive beading.
Don't wait any longer and buy your tickets for the Queen of Tenerife Gala, they will be sold out very soon!
La Feria (rides, games and food stalls)
The Fair provides you with many moments of fun.
There are several attractions, both for small children and teenagers, such as: the crazy cars, the inverter, the silly mouse, the haunted house, the little bulls, among others.
At the same time, you also have at your disposal a huge number of gambling games, in which you can win prizes ranging from soft toys to electronic devices.
And another relevant point to be dealt with is the traditional gastronomy offered by the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, through the countless food stalls, such as paponazo, etc.
Safety and cleanliness on public roads
It is worth mentioning that the island of Tenerife does not only shape Carnival in terms of partying and fun.
But also by raising awareness among residents and foreigners alike to keep the city clean.
This work is carried out satisfactorily by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, thanks to the street sweepers.
In terms of security, we must also thank the police and the Red Cross, who are on hand 24 hours a day to look after and prevent any risky event that may arise.
Provisional Calendar of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2021
The final calendar changes over the years:
Here, you can consult all the events you wish to attend. Are you going to miss it?
If you liked this publication, don't forget to leave us a comment and also see our various posts about other content related to the Canarian Archipelago!
