Something for the weekend: The Midsummer Magic of San Juan

Decorating the fountains in Puerto de la Cruz. Image Puerto de la Cruz Town Hal

Enrame de Chorros

Every year on 22 June, in Puerto de la Cruz, in time for the festivities of San Juan (St John), all of the water fountains are decorated with fruit, flowers and vegetables.

Enrame de Chorros, Getting Dressed Up for Summer in Puerto de la Cruz

Granadilla Rally

A busy weekend for you starting on Saturday 23 June 2018 with the Granadilla Rally.

Rally Villa de Granadilla 2017

Hogueras de San Juan

Then on Saturday 23 June 2018 in the evening, the Noche de San Juan (Eve of St John), is celebrated all over the island, most particularly on the Playa Jardín in Puerto de La Cruz, traditionally with the hogueras (bonfires), like this from El Médano.



The Festival of San Juan dates back to pre-Christian times and marks the arrival the longest day of the year. It's celebrated all over Spain, but especially in coastal regions where people head for the beach, build bonfires and party throughout the night.

Surviving Midsummer Fiestas and the Noche de San Juan on Tenerife

Baño de las Cabras

Then if you're up early enough, or still up maybe, on the morning of Sunday 24 June 2018, at the old port in Puerto de la Cruz, watch as a multitude of not always willing goats get their annual bath in the waters of the sea. Said to be good for ridding them of fleas.

The Bizarre Bathing of the Goats in Puerto de la Cruz



Día de San Juan en el Puerto de la Cruz

Something for the weekend: Romería de San Isidro Labrador in Tacoronte

More on the summer trail of traditional fiestas this weekend on Sunday 17 June 2018 with the Romería de San Isidro Labrador in Tacoronte. The procession starts from and returns to the Santa Catalina Church and starts in the early afternoon after mass at mid-day.

Here's coverage of the Romería de Tacoronte 2016.

Programme Romería Tacoronte 2018

Something for the weekend: Guía de Isora Hillclimb and Romería de San Isidro in La Orotava

An event for you on the rally calendar, the Subida Guia de Isora (Guía de Isora Hillclimb), on Saturday 9 June 2018, organised by Isora Motor Sport - more information from their website. Here's coverage of Subida Guia de Isora 2017.

Then on Sunday 10 June is probably the year's biggest event on the programme of Romerías - the Romería de San Isidro in La Orotava.

What is a Romería on Tenerife?



ROMERÍA DE LA OROTAVA 2017

Día de las Alfombras (Day of the Carpets) in La Orotava

The Día de las Alfombras (Day of the Carpets) for Corpus Christi in La Orotava this year falls on Thursday 7 June 2018. Go along to see - and more importantly smell - for yourself as the atmosphere on the day is tremendous, with families and groups coming together to make the carpets, as well as from the heady scents of all the flower petals, greenery and toasted plant material. It will also be a chance to see the massive sand carpet in front of the town hall before the procession walks over them and destroys them all.

Corpus Christi | La Orotava 2017

La Orotava in 1930

Looking at these photos fills me with awe, partly as so little has changed. All of the familiar buildings in La Orotava; church, town hall, Casa de las Balcones, of course, appear exactly as we know them today, but also there is the realisation that many decades and a lot of history has since passed and the world has actually changed beyond recognition.

LA OROTAVA 1930. TENERIFE. CANARY ISLANDS

Something for the weekend: Rally Orvecame Norte and a Romería in Granadilla de Abona

Saturday 2 June 2018 on the rally calendar is the date for the Orvecame Norte Rally.

Rally Orvecame Norte 2017

And on Sunday 3 June 2018, something more traditional with food, wine, fiesta and family at the Romería de San Antonio de Padua in Granadilla de Abona.



ROMERÍA 2017, Granadilla de Abona, comida, vino, fiesta y familia

Tenerife Fiestas in June 2018

Making carpets in La Orotava

There are no national public holidays in June, but a few municipal public holidays where individual districts have a day off, mostly because of local celebrations:

7 Jun 18 - 8th Day of Corpus Christi in La Orotava
13 Jun 18 - Festival of San Antonio de Padua in Granadilla de Abona
25 Jun 18 - Festival of San Juan Bautista in San Juan de la Rambla and Guía de Isora
29 Jun 18 - Festival of San Pedro Apóstol in El Sauzal and Güímar

The Día de las Alfombras (Day of the Carpets) for Corpus Christi in La Orotava is Thursday 7 June 2018, with the Romería in La Orotava on Sunday 10 June 2018.

On Thursday 21 June 2018, watch the sun go down at Solstice at the Güímar Pyramids.

Saturday 23rd June 2018, the Eve of San Juan, brings together pagan rituals with a free open-air festival of music and bonfires on Playa Jardin, Puerto de la Cruz.

And on the morning of Sunday 24 June 2018 watch as the goats get their annual, ritual bath in the waters of the old fishing port in Puerto de la Cruz.

Día de las Islas Canarias (Canary Islands’ Day)

Día de las Islas Canarias (Canary Islands’ Day), which this year takes place on Wednesday 30 May 2018, celebrates the first session of the Canary Islands Parliament, which took place on 30 May 1983. Now celebrated every year a public holiday and with traditional events, such as folk music, dancing, local gastronomy, as well as traditional Canarian sports, such as Juego del palo (stick-fighting) and Lucha Canaria (Canarian wrestling). Here's coverage of the celebrations from the Plaza del Cristo in Tacoronte.

Viva Canarias | Día de Canarias 2017

The 10 most curious spots on Tenerife

Commentary in Spanish, but you may recognise some of these places.

Los 10 rincones más curiosos de Tenerife

Something for the weekend: Romería San Isidro Labrador y Santa María de La Cabeza in Los Realejos

This week's high spot, on Sunday 27 May 2018, on the traditional fiesta calendar is the Romería San Isidro Labrador y Santa María de La Cabeza in Los Realejos.

Romería San Isidro Labrador LOS REALEJOS