The year
Festivities calendar.
Carnaval, romerías, summer beach nights, and the quieter local saints days — a rough year in Tenerife to plan a stay around. Some dates move with the moon and the church calendar; double-check before you book the flight.
Carnaval, Semana Santa and Corpus Christi shift every year with Easter. Confirm the exact dates with the official town hall calendar before locking in flights.
01
January
- Cultural
Cabalgata de Reyes
Evening of January 5
Towns across the island
The Three Kings parade through every town on the eve of Epiphany, throwing sweets to children. January 6 is a public holiday — most things are closed.
02
February
- Religious
Día de la Candelaria
February 2
Candelaria
The patron of the Canary Islands. Pilgrimage and mass at the Basílica de Candelaria, on the east coast about 25 minutes south of Santa Cruz.
- Carnaval
Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Mid-February to early March (movable)
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The big one. Two weeks that empty the rest of Spain into the city — the Gala de la Reina, the Coso parade down Avenida de Anaga, the Mascarita Ponte Tacón drag race, and street parties almost every night. Book accommodation early.
04
April
- Religious
Semana Santa
Holy Week (movable)
La Laguna and Santa Cruz
Solemn night processions through the old colonial streets of La Laguna — the Magna Procesión on Holy Thursday is the headline. Quieter and more local than the Andalusian versions, but visually striking.
05
May
- Cultural
Día de la Cruz
May 3
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The founding day of Santa Cruz. Crosses are decorated with flowers around the city and there is usually live music in Plaza de la Candelaria.
- Public holiday
Día de Canarias
May 30
Across the islands
A regional public holiday. Folkloric music, traditional dress, papas arrugadas with mojo, and many shops closed. A relaxed day — not a tourist spectacle.
06
June
- Religious
Corpus Christi
60 days after Easter (movable)
La Orotava and La Laguna
Worth a day trip. La Orotava covers its streets with carpets made from coloured volcanic sand and flower petals — some are the size of a basketball court. Walk the old town in the morning before the procession crosses them.
- Cultural
Noche de San Juan
Night of June 23–24
Coastal beaches — Playa de las Teresitas, Bajamar
Bonfires on the beach to welcome the summer. People jump the waves at midnight, eat barbecue on the sand, and stay out until sunrise. Las Teresitas is the closest from the house.
07
July
- Religious
Virgen del Carmen
Around July 16
Coastal towns — Puerto de la Cruz, Los Cristianos
Patron saint of fishermen. The image is taken out of the church and carried onto a fishing boat for a procession at sea — fireworks and crowded harbours follow.
08
August
- Religious
Romería de la Candelaria
August 14–15
Candelaria
Thousands of pilgrims walk overnight from Santa Cruz and other parts of the island to the Basílica de Candelaria. Folk groups, traditional dress, and an enactment of the appearance of the Virgin to the Guanches.
09
September
- Cultural
Festival Mueca
Early September
Puerto de la Cruz
An international street arts festival in the old town of Puerto de la Cruz — circus, theatre, dance, music, all free and outdoors. One of the best long weekends of the year.
11
November
- Food & wine
San Andrés
November 29–30
Across the island — Icod de los Vinos for the tablas
The young wine of the year is opened and the wine cellars (bodegas) of villages across the north pour glasses straight from the barrel. In Icod de los Vinos, kids slide down the steep streets on greased wooden planks (las tablas) — strange, loud, and very Tenerife.
12
December
- Cultural
Nochevieja en Plaza de España
December 31
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
New Year’s Eve in front of the lake at Plaza de España — twelve grapes at midnight, fireworks over the port, and the city’s big concert. The party rolls on past sunrise on the seafront.