After more than 20 years, posts here will now only be occasional ( |
| Los Cristianos International Carnival 2016 |
Los Cristianos will become La Vieja Habana (Old Havana) for a Cuban-themed carnival and events run from the 4th to 14th of March 2016.
This is the longest gap, in relation to the "proper" carnival date (Shrove Tuesday) that it has ever been. Los Cristianos' main parade mostly used to take place 12 days after Shrove Tuesday, then it nudged up to 19 days and sometimes 26. This year the event is 33 days after Shrove Tuesday and therefore takes place only two weeks before Easter and only a week before the start of Holy Week, weird when carnival was originally supposed to end before lent begins.
No doubt they have their reasons, but I do wish Arona would stick to a regular, predictable schedule like all the other carnivals, most importantly so that visitors could plan ahead. Is Arona completely oblivious to visitors, or could they care less as enough of them always "just happen" to be there are the right time?
Here's the full programme of events:
- Friday, 4th March at 9 pm, presentation of the candidates for Carnival Queen and Junior Queen at the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center.
- Saturday, 5th March at midday, inauguration of the exhibition "Un Sueño de Carnaval, Homenaje a Víctor Gámez" (A Carnival Dream, Homage to Víctor Gámez) at the Cultural Centre in Los Cristianos. - At 7 pm Cabalgata Anunciadora del Carnaval (Carnival Opening Parade) in Playa de Las Américas from the Commercial Centre Gala en la Avda. Rafael Puig Lluvina through to the Commercial Centre Oasis en la Avda. Las Américas. - From 10 pm Wig Party (Fiesta del Pelucón) in the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center.
- Sunday, 6th March at midday Carnival Concert with the Banda de Música de Arona in the Plaza de la Pescadora, Los Cristianos. - At 5 pm Parade with all the musical groups of the carnival, from the Plaza del Pescador (Cultural Centre) to the Playa de Los Cristianos beach. - At 6 pm Meeting of the Murgas of Tenerife in the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center.
- Tuesday, 8th March at 7 pm Festival of dance groups in the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center.
- Wednesday, 9th March at 6:30 pm Dance for the elderly in the patio of the Cultural Centre. - At 8 pm Gala for the selection of the Junior Carnival Queen at the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center.
- Thursday, 10th March at 9 pm Grand Gala for the selection of the Carnival Queen at the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center.
- Friday, 11th March at 9 pm Drag Queen Gala after which there will be dancing to the Orquesta Deliciosa at the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center. - From midnight Zona DJ with local DJs in the Plaza de Pescador (outside the Cultural Centre).
- Saturday, 12th March from midday Carnaval de Día (Daytime Carnival) with 40 Principales with national and international artists at the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center and with various activities and workshops occurring simultaneously at the Plaza de la Pescadora. - At 5 pm Carnival Costumes Contest at the Plaza de la Pescadora. - At 8 pm Dancing with the orchestras Armonía Show y Tropin at the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center. - At 10 pm Carnival procession along the beach from the Avenida de Suecia to the Plaza del Pescador (Cultural Centre). - From midnight Zona DJ with local DJs in the Plaza de Pescador (outside the Cultural Centre).
- Sunday, 13th March from 11 am to 2 pm Exhibition of Vintage and Classic Cars (event to be confirmed) in the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center. - At 11:30 am Contest of Pets' Costumes at the Carnival Enclosure in front of the Valdés Center or the Plaza de la Pescadora. - 4 pm Gran Coso Apoteósico del Carnaval (Carnival Main Parade) from the Paloma Beach apartments in the Avda. Juan Carlos I to the Centro Cultural de Los Cristianos, at the end of which will be dancing to the orchestras Combo Dominicano and Pasion Gomera in the exterior of the Cultural Center.
- Monday, 14th March at 8:30 pm Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine) with the procession from the Plaza del Pescador (Cultural Centre), to the Playa de Los Cristianos beach at the end of which will be the end of carnival party with local DJs in the Plaza de Pescador (outside the Cultural Centre).
