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Carnaval 2004 Takes To The Streets ...

Carnival 2004 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

With the Carnaval Queen and her Maids of Honour having been elected in Wednesday's (Feb 18) Gala, Carnaval 2004 in Santa Cruz -- whose theme this year is a tribute to the late Queen of Salsa, Cuban-born, Celia Cruz -- is now ready to be taken to the streets to celebrate the party proper.

Here are some of the most important events for prospective revellers ...
  • Opening Parade of Carnaval 2004 - Friday Feb 20 - Leaving from the Avenida de Belgica and passing through; Plaza de la Republica Dominicana, Avenida de la Asuncion, Plaza de la Paz, Rambla de Pulido, Plaza Weyler, Mendez Nunez, Rambla General Franco and terminating in the Avenida de Anaga. 
  • Coso Apoteosis (The Main Parade) - Shrove Tuesday Feb 24 at 16:00 - Avenidas de Anaga and Maritima - Santa Cruz de Tenerife
  • Burial of the Sardine - Friday Feb 27 at 20:00 Santa Cruz de Tenerife. (NOTE: This event has been moved from it's traditional Ash Wednesday slot this year.) Starting from the Avenida de Belgica, the funeral procession will pass through; Avenida de la Asuncion, Plaza de la Paz, Rambla de Pulido, Angel Guimera, Imeldo Seris and Avenida Jose Antonio. The defunct sardine coming to it's final rest with a firework display on its arrival in the Plaza de Europa.
  • Junior Carnaval Parade - Saturday Feb 28 at 17:00 Santa Cruz de Tenerife. In the Avenidas de Anaga and Maritima, terminating at Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena, where the youngsters can take part in a big kids' party. At 20:00 a Mini Cavalcade leaves the Plaza de Weyler passing through the streets of Castillo, San Francisco, Villalba Hervaas, La Marina, to the Plaza de Espana
  • XXXIV Concourse of Classic Cars - Sunday Feb 29 at 10:00 Parque Garcia Sanabria. From 12:00 begins a circuit of the following streets: Numancia at the corner of Mendez Nunez, Mendez Nunez, Pilar, Villalba Hervaas, La Marina, Avenida de Anaga, Plaza de Espana, Angel Guimera, Plaza de Weyler, Mendez Nunez, Dr. Jose Navieras to the Hotel Mencey.
Dancing to the various orchestras begins at 23:00 on most nights in the streets and squares. There are many other events and attractions in-between. Further details can be found (in Spanish) at the Council's Official Carnaval Site.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Queen 2004

Natalia Acosta Jorge Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2004

Queen of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival in 2004 was Natalia Acosta Jorge, in a costume entitled "Miércoles de luna llena" (Full Moon Wednesday), designed by Juan Carlos Armas and representing Bingo Colombófilo

In 2004, the court was made up as follows:

  1. 1st Maid of Honour: Guacimara Díaz Luis, with a costume entitled 'Sutil' (Subtle), representing Centro Comercial Santa Cruz - Carrefour and designed by Santi Castro.
  2. 2nd Maid of Honour: Raquel Montesinos Rodríguez, with a costume entitled 'En son de paz' (In the name of peace), representing Floristería Tin and designed by Carma II.
  3. 3rd Maid of Honour: Carlota Hernández Delgado, with a costume entitled 'Ritual' (Ritual), representing newspaper "El Baúl" and designed by Saliarca Creativos.
  4. 4th Maid of Honour: María Isabel Fumero Méndez, with a costume entitled 'Kyda', representing Barbacoa Tacoronte and designed by Expedita Hernández.
That year, the theme of carnival paid homage to the legendary "Queen of Salsa", Cuban singer, Celia Cruz who died in 2003.

The queen's election gala, which was held on the stage set up in the central Plaza de España before almost seven thousand people and was directed by Jaime Azpilicueta, was a prelude to the carnival festivities in the streets, which ran from Friday 20 February to Sunday 29 February, filling the streets and nights of the city with hundreds of thousands of carnival goers. The tribute to Celia Cruz was made clear by the presence at the gala of her widower, Pedro Knight, who shouted the singer's famous cry of  "¡Azúcar!" (Sugar!) from the stage.

The stage in the Plaza de España was decorated as a neighbourhood in Cuba, with a neon sign that read "Celia Cruz" in blue. Tenerife wanted to pay tribute to the salsa singer who had meant so much for the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (particularly for her performance at the Guinness record-breaking party in 1987) and whose songs have intoxicated the nights of the carnival in the city streets. Also during the gala, then mayor of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Miguel Zerolo Aguilar, declared Celia Cruz as "Queen of Honor of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival". The gala closed with the song "El Cielo Tiene Azúcar" (Heaven has sugar), composed by Guillermo Albelo and Gilberto Martín and performed by the group "Sound Balera". Guillermo Albelo, a mutual friend of Cuban pianist Rolando Columbié and Celia Cruz, wanted to dedicate it to them. 

That year the council decided to move the Burial of the Sardine from Ash Wednesday to two days later, on Piñata Friday. A controversial decision that was not well received in all carnival sectors, with some opting to keep the funeral on its traditional date, so that there were two burials of the battered sardine. 


(Coronation of the Carnival Queen of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2004)

Tenerife Land of Eternal Christmas

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