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Tenerife in May 2019

Canarian Stick Fighting

May in Tenerife starts and ends with public holidaysWednesday 1 May 2019 is Fiesta del Trabajo (Workers’ Day) and Thursday 30 May 2019 is Día de Canarias (Canaries Day), which is the anniversary of the first session of the Canary Islands' Parliament after the return of democracy in Spain.

May 3, Día de la Cruz (Festival of the Crosses) is a municipal public holiday in Los Realejos, Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz de Tenerife - in the case of the last for both the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the Founding of the City.

The municipality of Los Realejos celebrates the Day of the Cross on 3rd May with a spectacular display of fireworks, one of the most outstanding in Europe and declared of National Tourist Interest. The two main streets of the town, the streets of El Medio and Del Sol, rival to offer the best pyrotechnic show. 

Second only to the carnival in terms of importance, are the Fiestas de Mayo (May Fiestas) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which not only honour the Santa Cruz (Holy Cross) for which the city is named, it also commemorates the founding of the city. The festivities, which coincide with the 525th anniversary of the city, include the Election of the Fiesta Queen that was held on Friday, April 26; the exhibition of flowers, plants and handicrafts that opens on Sunday April 28 at the García Sanabria Park; on Wednesday, 1 May 2019, from 12:30 hours, the Paseo Romero de Tíncer (Traditional procession through the neighbourhood streets, with the participation of folk groups; Alcorán, Itamar, Chincanayros, Chácaras and Tambores of Garajonay, Tonique, Sueños del Teide, Idaira, Farrutes of the Atlantic, Bienmesabe, Saint Angel, Virgin of Regla and Parranda Amuley.). On Thursday, 2 May 2019, the Baile de Magos (Country Ball) - an all ticket affair - in the area of ​​La Concepción and on Friday, 3 May 2019, from 9 am, the Decorated Crosses competition on the Rambla Santa Cruz and throughout the city. Santa Cruz, lista para sus fiestas de mayo

The XLIII Exposición Regional de Flores, Plantas y Artesanía Tradicional Canaria (Regional Exhibition of Flowers, Plants and Canarian Traditional Crafts) in the Parque García Sanabria, runs until Sunday 5 May 2019, from 10 am to 9 pm. During the last week of April and the first of May each year we can enjoy a wide variety of colours and aromas in the floral exhibition that takes place in the García Sanabria Park in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, along with wonderful artisan works of basketry, embroidery and lacework, among others.

More than a hundred musicians will give life to works by Wagner and Strauss on Friday 3 May 2019 in a new program of the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, with a concert in the Sala Sinfónica of the Auditorio de Tenerife.

Saturday 4 May 2019 there's a Craft Beer Festival in Puertito de Güímar.

From 3 to 5 May in Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Summer Holiday Travel Fair, with more than 30 companies participating; airlines, shipping companies and hotel companies. 4:00 p.m. Calle Valentín Sanz and Plaza del Príncipe.

Sunday 5 MayCome to Santa Cruz. Commercial opening which highlights the Summer Holiday Fair with various activities; market, children's workshops, thematic routes and parades. From 11:00 am in the central zone of the city.

Sunday 5 May 2019 is Día de la Madre (Mother's Day), celebrated on the first Sunday in May, since 1965 (previously, it was 8th December).

Sunday 5 May 2019Concierto Del Día De La Madre (Mother's Day Concert) with JOSEFINA ALEMÁN at 8 pm in the Plaza de La Candelaria.

Sunday 5 May 2019, the XX Medio Maratón Ciudad de La Laguna.

Romería de San Marcos in Tegueste: Postponed from it's usual final Sunday in April slot because of the General Elections in Spain, the Romería de San Marcos in Tegueste will take place on Sunday 5 May 2019, which this year celebrates its 51st edition. Despite the change of date, the council believe that this will not affect the influx of public, which is always crowded. In fact, some 80,000 people attended last year. The pilgrimage will depart at 1:00 pm from the Plaza de San Marcos, after the celebration of the solemn Eucharist at 12 noon. The image of San Marcos will pass through the streets of La Audiencia, El Carmen, Nueva, Prebendado Pacheco, San Marcos square, El Pinar and La Placeta street, accompanied by 18 carts, four boats and a total of 29 Folklore groups.

May 5th is the anniversary of the 1706 eruption in Garachico.

The Plaza de la Cultura in San Isidro this Saturday 11 May, will host a festival of folk traditions with crafts, workshops, exhibitions of local games, folklore and gastronomy. Organized by the Department of Culture in Granadilla de Abona, events begin at 10.00 am and are scheduled to conclude at around 3:00 pm.

The event is scheduled to start with the craft and gastronomy fair that will offer basketry and blacksmithing, cheese making, bags and jewelery, handmade bread, Canarian products, pastries and artisanal honey. Also, there will be an exhibition of domestic and farm animals, bulldog and podenco dogs. For the youngest children; workshops, traditional games and an exhibition of wooden carts.

From 11.00 am there will be displays of Juego del palo (Canarian stick fighting), Salto del pastor (Shepherd's Leap) and the release of pigeons by the Club Colombófilo Abona Sur. Canarian food tasting at 2:00 p.m. And at 8:00 pm, the 'V Alisios del Sur Folk Festival' will be held with the participation of Tamadiste, Andares Isleños and Alisios del Sur cultural associations.

Las tradiciones populares se dan cita el sábado en San Isidro

Museo Casa del Vino en La Baranda, El Sauzal
Image: bea & txema [CC BY 2.0]

Tasting Workshop of the Extra Virgin Olive Oils of Tenerife

On Saturday 11 May 2019, from 11 am to 2 pm, at the Casa del Vino de Tenerife, La Baranda, El Sauzal, take part in a tasting workshop of the Extra Virgin Olive Oils of Tenerife and the Canary Islands, in which the olive oil culture, its elaboration and characteristics will be discussed. More information on 922 57 25 35.

Adeje Rally: This weekend on Saturday 11 May on the Rally Calendar is the 29th Rallye Villa de Adeje. It's a huge event for the south of the island and great fun if you like motor sports, road closures and disruption if you don't. :)

Ópera: La Traviata in Adeje

Ópera de Tenerife present La Traviata, by Giuseppe Verdi, at the Magma Arte & Congresos de Adeje, on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May, beginning at 7:30 p.m. and has the collaboration of the Government of the Canary Islands, Ministry of Tourism. It is a production made entirely on the Island that the Cabildo program outside the Auditorium of Tenerife in order to bring this genre to new audiences.

Ópera de Tenerife presenta La traviata en el Magma Arte & Congresos

The Festival Internacional de Arte en la Calle (International Street Art Festival in Puerto de la Cruz), more commonly known as MUECA2019, takes place in the tourist city from Thursday 9 May to Sunday 12 May 2019. A great international attraction, drawing in locals and visitors alike to experience its extraordinary and original wonders. The festival welcomes you to soak up its colours, lively atmosphere and group performances. Theatre, circus acts, dance, music and other art forms take to the city's streets to create four days of magic. There is more information on the festival's Facebook page.

The group Jóvenes Cantadores (literally, Young Singers) appear with Pitingo - creator of soulería, soul to the rhythm of bulería - in a concert taking place on Monday, May 20, starting at 9:00 p.m., in the Plaza de Valle de Guerra, and which is part of the program of events of the Fiestas of San Isidro Labrador and Santa Maria de la Cabeza. Jóvenes Cantadores, formed in Tenerife, were discovered in 2008 by the director of the Televisión Canaria program "La Bodega de Julián", Elvis Sanfiel. The group has a total of twenty-four components with ages between 17 and 28 years. The vast majority are students of the University of La Laguna.

Jóvenes Cantadores y Pitingo, este lunes (20 de mayo) en Valle de Guerra

Former Convent of San Sebastián in Los Silos

"Los Caprichos Musicales de la Isla Baja" started in the region fourteen years ago. This edition of 2019, taking place between Saturday 11 May and Saturday 20 July 2019, consists of 18 concerts in the beautiful settings of the Isla Baja; mainly old convents and squares of the municipalities of Garachico, Los Silos, Buenavista del Norte and El Tanque.

The former convent of San Sebastián, in Los Silos, hosts the inaugural concert on Saturday, May 11, at 8:00 pm. Attendance is FREE. Consult the program online (in Spanish) for details of dates and venues for these classical and opera concerts and recitals, as well as pop, world music, jazz, pop, funk & soul ...

On Saturday 11 May 2019, is the Pilgrimage in Honor to San Isidro in El Pico de Tejina, La Laguna.

On Sunday 12 May 2019, there are:

Feria de Las Tradiciones in Candelaria

Candelaria is hosting a Traditions Fair, highlighting the Culture and Traditions of the municipality in the surroundings of the Plaza de Teror and Avenida Condes de Santa María of Abona. The Fair will be open to the public this Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and attendees will be able to enjoy different activities, among which are the sale of handicrafts, Tenerife costumes, exhibition of needlework, special programming of Candelaria Radio, screenings of "Candelaria en la recuerdo" (Candelaria in the memory), bouncy castles, press area and Canarian books, workshops (from 10 am to 2 pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm) in drum, chácaras and traditional percussion; and many local crafts, as well as cut-out and colour the traditional costume of Candelaria.

Cultura y Tradición se citan en Candelaria (Via)

La Traviata in Puerto de la Cruz

Ópera de Tenerife is staging two more performances of La Traviata, by Giuseppe Verdi, on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May 2019, starting at 9:00 p.m., in the gardens of the old Hotel Taoro, in Puerto de la Cruz.

Romería de San Isidro in Guía de Isora

Guía de Isora celebrates the 66th anniversary of the Pilgrimage of San Isidro Labrador on Sunday 19 May. After the mass sung by the municipal folk group Sámara in the Church of Our Lady of La Luz from 11.30am, the celebrations through the streets will begin. Folk groups, carts and parrandas will add a note of color and happiness, along with groups of dancers who will accompany the saint. The evening will continue with dancing to orchestras Sabrosa and Wamampy.

This is just one of many such Romerías taking place on Sunday 19 May:
There is also a huge list of Romerías taking place in May.

The Tenerife Walking Festival 2019 (now into it's 5th year) will take place from 21 to 25 May. This is an event open to hikers from all over the continent, combining different types of hikes and trails and original supplementary activities.

The Centro Internacional de Ferias y Congresos in Santa Cruz de Teneife will host the 6º Salón Gastronómico de Canarias – GastroCanarias 2019 (The sixth Gastronomic Fair of the Canary Islands), from May 21 to 23, a specialised event that will turn Tenerife into the epicenter of gastronomy and local products.

Some 215 stands, spread over 12,000 square meters make this event a great showcase for the promotion of agri-food products from the Canary Islands, as well as serving as a space for the exchange of information and knowledge.

This edition also aims to become the first in Spain to be free of plastic.

On Friday 24 May, 9pm at the Teatro Unión Tejina, Plaza El Ramal s/n, 38260, Tejina, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, see Canarian reggae band, Ruts & La Isla Music, and guests in a show "MARLEY VIVE" (Marley Lives), recreating many of Bob Marley's biggest hits. Price 5 Euros. (via)

Much More Music Pick Your Style

From 24 May to 2 June the XXXI Feria del Libro de Santa Cruz (31st Santa Cruz Book Fair) is taking place in the Parque García Sanabria. Although, obviously, concerned with books in Spanish - with talks, signings, readings, poetry - there are literary, musical, cinema and gastronomy activities too. There are 35 book stalls, publishers, public and private institutions as well as areas for eating, resting and reading. The park, with such sociable events, is a marvellous space to be. (via)

Friday 24 May from 6pm to 9pm at the Casa del Vino de Tenerife, Calle San Simón, 49, 38360 El Sauzal, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Tasting workshop with Tenerife wines, edible flowers and sweets. Workshop where the harmony between the floral aromas of the wine, the edible flowers and the memories of childhood through licorice or gumdrops are sought. Information or reservation on 922 57 25 35. Price 18 Euros. (via)

Canary Islands Day is celebrated in almost every corner of the archipelago with numerous cultural and leisure activities, in which people participate in traditional costumes, with folk music and exhibitions of local customs and sports such as Lucha Canaria (Canarian Wrestling), Juego del Palo (Stick Fighting), Salto de Pastor (Shepherd's Leap), or Bola Canaria (Boules/Pétanque) in many locations. There is also no lack of demonstrations of the rich, local cuisine.

For 2019, the Canary Islands Government has presented an enormous list of activities for the commemoration of Día de CanariasAmong the folk music concerts on offer on Thursday 30 May are those by some of the 'big names' in this genreLos Gofiones (Plaza de la Candelaria, Santa Cruz at 5:30 pm) and  Los Sabandeños (Plaza de la Candelaria, Santa Cruz at 8:00 pm). While in La Laguna, in the Plaza del Cristo from 12:30pm another edition of the festival Canto Común (Common Song) will take place, bringing together 25 folk groups, soloists, dancers, etc. from the municipality in a demonstration of the island's heritage. 

Meanwhile, in Santa Úrsula and in Alcalá on Thursday 30 May there are Ferias de Artesanía (Crafts Fairs). In Santa Úrsula, in the Espacio Cultural La Casona de San Luis, from 20 to 31 May there is an exhibition of Canarian clothing, entitled “ATAVÍOS IV”, organised by the Agrupación Folclórica Chimaque with the Santa Úrsula Town Hall, which this year is dedicated to the undergarments used in the past. Petticoats, bloomers and other pieces can be seen with shoes and hats that complement traditional outfits.

The exhibition can be visited until May 31, from Monday to Friday from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm and on weekends 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

At 11am on 30 May, is the XII Campeonato Nacional de Artes Marciales Canarias (12th National Championship of Canary Martial Arts), in the Plaza de Santa Úrsula. Also on Thursday 30 May, Alcalá celebrates their annual Feria de Artesanía de Alcalá in the Plaza del Llano, with stalls demonstrating all manner of local crafts and produce, with lots of local foodstuffs to try.

In Santa Úrsula, in the Espacio Cultural La Casona de San Luis, from 20 to 31 May there is an Exhibition of Canarian Undergarments, entitled “ATAVÍOS IV”, organised by the Agrupación Folclórica Chimaque with the Santa Úrsula Town Hall, which this year is dedicated to the undergarments used in the past. Petticoats, bloomers and other pieces can be seen along with shoes and hats that complement the traditional outfits. (via)

There are none of the traditional Romerías in the final weekend of the month as some were postponed or rescheduled due to the 2019 Spanish local elections and 2019 Spanish regional elections that are taking place on Sunday, 26 May 2019.

Kicking off the weekend, on Friday 31 May from 4pm, the Romería La Corujera 2019 takes place in the neighbourhood of La Corujera in Santa Úrsula.

CONCERTS: Also Friday 31 May, at 8pm at the Hotel Meliá Hacienda del CondeCalle La Finca, s/n, 38480 Buenavista del Norte, a classical recital, “Encanto Latinoamericano” (Latin American Charm) - part of the season of Los Caprichos Musicales de la Isla Baja (The Musical Caprices of Isla Baja) - Mara Jaubert (piano) and Javier Rodríguez (percussion), Francisco Feria and Cristina Calvo (vocals) will perform classical works of the repertoire of this continent. (via

If you prefer jazz, then head along to the Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín at 8pm on Friday 31 May to see the Ken Norris QuartetKen Norris is described as "is one of the best US jazz singers at present." (via)

Tenerife Land of Eternal Christmas

Sunbathing SantaDesert Island ChristmasScuba Diving SantaTropical Santa
Santa's Having a Whale of a TimeSurfing SantaWaterski SantaCamel Rodeo Santa
With a wide range of products in each design, click the pics (above) to see the full selections.