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| View from the stands for the Rhythm & Harmony on 2 March 2019 |
Saturday 2 March 2019, we had a brilliant night out at the Rhythm & Harmony Comparsas Contest on the Avenida Anaga, alongside the
Plaza de España in Santa Cruz. This was one of two events (the other being
the Main Parade on the following Tuesday) for which we purchased tickets for seats in the
gradas (stands) to watch the parades. You get a seat with a decent view, very close to the parade and in the area where the TV cameras are located. The participants often interact with the public in the stands, with some coming into the stands themselves, so it would be difficult to get any closer to the action.
Firstly, however, let me assure you that you
DON'T NEED tickets to go to and watch any of the carnival parades, in Santa Cruz or any other town on the island, but you
CAN buy tickets to get a few extra comforts and conveniences.
We've bought tickets through
Volcano Teide, but other years I've found them via,
Atlántico Excursions, it seems to depend on who the council has awarded the concession to that year. These are the
official carnival products,
promoted by Santa Cruz Town Hall and
its carnival organising department.
The ticket selling websites are available in English and the options usually include for seats only, or including transfers and guides to and from hotels. Tickets can also be purchased in person, we understand, from the
Casa del Carnaval (Carnival Museum),
Calle Aguere, 17, 38005 Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife themselves manage the sale of chairs that line the carnival route, which (in 2019) cost mere €2.50 each.
The catering was a snack van round the back of the stands and there was an enormous queue, so you might want to bring your own snacks and water if you don't want to miss the parades. There are also portaloos inside the stands area that are only available to those with tickets, which is a great convenience (couldn't resist). The hostesses usher people into the first available seats, though I found them to be empathetic towards old age, reduced mobility and vertigo preventing me from climbing higher. They'll probably also give you a silly hat to wear, which clearly someone has sponsored to get on tele, but isn't a bad idea in the heat of daytime parades. And you may get to perform in a Mexican wave or two, but if you're not up for such activities, you probably won't like carnival anyway!
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| Camera gets in close to the carnival groups |
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| Michael Jackson look-alike does a walkabout along the parade route |
After more than 20 years, posts here will now only be occasional (
