Tenerife in February 2016

Carnival procession in Los Cristianos

February 2nd is an island-wide public holiday in honour of the patron of the Canary Islands: the Virgen de la Candelaria. The Fiesta de La Candelaria, the celebration of Candlemass or the Presentation of the Lord and the ritual purification of the Virgin Mary. In the town of Candelaria, where the figure of the Virgin resides, there is a program of religious events lasting several days

The only municipal public holiday falling in February this year is on Tuesday, February 9th for Martes de Carnaval (Carnival Tuesday). This is a public holiday in the following districts of the island; Arafo, Arona, Arico, Candelaria, El Rosario, El Sauzal, Fasnia, Granadilla de Abona, Icod de los Vinos, La Matanza de Acentejo, La Orotava, La Victoria de Acentejo, San Cristobal de La Laguna, San Miguel de Abona, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santa Ursula and Tacoronte.

On the final Sunday of Carnaval in Santa Cruz - known as Domingo de Piñata - which this year falls on Sunday, February 14th, there's the annual exhibition of Automóviles Antiguos (Vintage Cars), which gather in and around the Parque García Sanabria and then parade around the city from mid-day, travelling around the Rambla de las Tinajas, Ramón y Cajal, Plaza Pedro Schwartz, Calles Méndez Núñez, Pilar, Villalba Hervás and La Marina, ending up on the Avenida Francisco La Roche.

From 10 am - 1 pm, there's an Exposición de Coches Clásicos (Exhibition of Classic Cars), its 2nd year, organised by the Amigos del BMW E21 Tenerife (Friends of the BMW E21 in Tenerife), in the Avenida Marítima.

Most of Tenerife's carnivals - with the exception of Los Cristianos, which is in March - take place in February this year. Santa Cruz Carnaval is 5th to the 14th February; Puerto de la Cruz Carnaval begins on January 31st to February 14th; Los Gigantes Carnaval was postponed to March by the weather.

Smaller carnivals including those in Granadilla, La Orotava, Los Realejos and Icod de los Vinos, also take place in February.

Carnaval in La Orotava runs from 6th - 13th February, with it's main parade from 5 pm on Tuesday, 9th February.

In the San Agustín district of Los Realejos, where this year's carnival theme is Toys, events began on January 24th and will run through to February 11th. There, the main parade takes place from 5 pm on Sunday, February 7th.

In Icod de los Vinos, their carnival, inspired by Eurovision, is from January 31st to February 13th, with the main parade on Sunday, 7th February, from 5:30 pm.

Granadilla de Abona's Pirate-themed carnival is taking place from 19th to the 28th February. The main parade is on Saturday, 27th February, from 5 pm, with the parade in El Médano on Sunday, 28th February, also from 5 pm.