Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2008
Every February, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of the largest of the Canary Islands, hosts this historical carnival, attracting around a million people either participating or observing. Preparations begin weeks or even months in advance, but the festival proper begins a week before Ash Wednesday with the election of the carnival queen, continuing with a cabalgata (horse parade) and a whole weekend of mad street partying and revelry. If you are not there already, what are you waiting for? Rent an apartment in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and start enjoying the party.
The carnival’s current reputation rides on its extraordinary pre-Lenten activities - visitors from all around the globe flock to the town to partake in the cross-dressing event of the year. There isn’t a single person in the crowd not dressed as the opposite sex. It boasts the most outlandish costumes, spectacular dancing and sensational music from locals who stop everything to abandon themselves to ‘carnival desire’.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival is one of Europe’s biggest carnivals, this grand street party is a lavish spectacle of extravagant costumes and Latin American dance music to rival that of Rio de Janeiro. For years under the Franco regime, Carnival was suppressed for its irreverent frivolity. It begins with the election of a queen of the festivities and builds up to a climax on Shrove Tuesday when there is a large procession. The “funeral” of an enormous mock sardine takes place on Ash Wednesday.
Programme for Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 2008
Updated information: Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnaval ‘08
Friday, 1st February
20:00 h. Grand Opening Parade, Carnival 2008
Setting out from Avda de Bélgica, it makes it way to the Plaza de la República Dominicana, along the Avda de la Asunción, Ramón y Cajal, Galcerán, Plaza Weyler, Méndez Núñez, Pilar, Villalba Hervás, La Marina and finally the Avda de Anaga.
Fireword Display when the Parade ends.
20:00 h. Floats and Decorated Cars Competition
23:00 h. Dancing to the sounds of the Big Bands
Plaza del Príncipe
Saturday, 2nd February
17:30 h. A selection of shows in different parts of the city
20:00 h. Performances of Murgas in the following areas:
Calle Castillo junction with Calle Robayna, Calle Castillo (Cortefiel), Calle Castillo (BBVA bank, opposite El Globo), the steps of the Church of San Francisco, Plaza de la Iglesia in the entrance of the Parish of the Mother Church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, the steps of the Caja Canarias (Main Building) and Calle General Gutiérrez on the corner of Calle Imeldo Serís
20:00 h. Competition of Rhythm and Harmony Comparsas. With the participation of all the Comparsas Avda Anaga
23:00 h. Dancing with performances of Big Bands
Plaza del Príncipe and Plaza de Europa
Sunday, 3rd February
11:00 h. Performance by Afilarmónica Ni fú – Ni fa
Plaza del Príncipe
12:00 h. Performance by The Lyrical Choral Group Los Fregolinos
Plaza del Príncipe
17:30 h. Shows in different parts of the city
20:00 h. Performances by Murgas in the following places:
Calle Castillo junction with Calle Robayna, Calle Castillo (Cortefiel), Calle Castillo (BBVA bank, opposite El Globo), the steps of the Church of San Francisco, Plaza de la Iglesia in the entrance of the Parish of the Mother Church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, the steps of the Caja Canarias (Main Building) and Calle General Gutiérrez on the corner of Calle Imeldo Serís
20:00 h. Mini Parade
Setting out from Plaza de Weyler and continuing along the following streets: Castillo,
San Francisco, Villalba Hervás, La Marina and ending at the Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena
23:00 h. Dancing with performances of the Big Bands
Plaza de España and Plaza del Príncipe
Monday, 4th February
17:30 h. Shows in different parts of the city
Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena, Parque Bulevar and Plaza del Príncipe
20:00 h. Performances by Murgas in the following places:
Calle Castillo junction with Calle Robayna, Calle Castillo (Cortefiel), Calle Castillo (BBVA bank, opposite El Globo), the steps of the Church of San Francisco, Plaza de la Iglesia in the entrance of the Parish of the Mother Church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, the steps of the Caja Canarias (Main Building) and Calle General Gutiérrez on the corner of Calle Imeldo Serís
20:00 h. Mini Parade
Setting out from Plaza de Weyler and continuing along the following streets: Castillo, San Francisco, Villalba Hervás, La Marina and ending at the Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena
20:00 h. Dancing with performances of the Big Bands
Plaza del Príncipe
Tuesday, 5th February
11:00 h. Performance by Afilarmónica Ni fú – Ni fa
12:00 h. Performance by The Lyrical Choral Group Los Fregolinos
Plaza del Príncipe
16:00 h. Carnival “Coso” Apoteosis (crowning parade)
Avda Anaga and Avda Marítima
20:00 h. Dancing to the big bands
2:00 h. Fireworks display
Wednesday, 6th February
21:00 h. Funeral (or Burial) of the Sardine
Setting out from Plaza de la Paz, and continuing along Méndez Núñez, Pilar, Villalba Hervás, La Marina and ending in the Plaza de Europa
Fireworks display, “cremation” of the Sardine in the Plaza de Europa
23:00 h. Daincing with performances by the big bands
Thursday, 7th February
20:30 h. Festival of The Lyrical Choral Group La Zarzuela Círculo de Amistad XII de Enero
Friday, 8th February
23:00 h. Dancing with performances by the big bands
Saturday, 9th February
17:30 h. Shows in different parts of the city
18:00 h. Children’s “Coso” (parade)
Avenida de Anaga and Avenida Marítima, ending by the Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena
20:00 h. Performances by Murgas in the following places:
Calle Castillo junction with Calle Robayna, Calle Castillo (Cortefiel), Calle Castillo (BBVA bank, opposite El Globo), the steps of the Church of San Francisco, Plaza de la Iglesia in the entrance of the Parish of the Mother Church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, the steps of the Caja Canarias (Main Building) and Calle General Gutiérrez on the corner of Calle Imeldo Serís
20:00 h. Mini Parade:
Setting out from Plaza de Weyler and continuing along the following streets: Castillo, San Francisco, Villalba Hervás, La Marina and ending at the Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena
21:00 h. Festival of Rondallas
23:00 h. Dancing with performances by the big bands
Sunday, 10th February
10:00 h. 38th Grand City Competition of Antique Cars
Plaza de la Iglesia, Calle La Noria
11:00 h. Performance by Afilarmónica Ni fú- Ni fa
12:30 h. Performance by The Lyrical Choral Group La Zarzuela Círculo de Amistad XII de Enero
17:00 h. Grand Finale of Carnivals 2008
Círculo de Amistad XII de Enero
17:30 h. Shows in different parts of the city
