San Agustín – Events

Going to concerts or enjoying culinary delights? Attending sporting events or haggling at markets? Find out for yourself what San Agustín has to offer.

• Día de los Reyes (Epiphany or 'Day of the Kings')

  06 January
  This day is celebrated all over the island, but in Agüimes in particular, where the eve of Epiphany is marked by a street parade, during which the Three Magi come bearing Christmas gifts to the children of the town.

• Fiesta del Almendro en Flor (Festival of the Almond in Blossom)

  February
  This fiesta takes place every year in early February when the almond trees are in full bloom. Celebrated on a grand scale, especially in the towns of Tejeda and Valsequillo, this festival is celebrated with traditional folk dancing and singing, and also provides the opportunity to sample the local produce such as almond wines and sweets.

• Carnival around the island

  February/March
  In Gran Canaria, they celebrate carnivals in almost every corner of the island, but the most famous and most exuberant carnival activities are those of Las Palmas, San Bartolomé, Maspalomas, Agüimes, Agaete and Telde, each of these towns’ carnival festivities having its own trademark. What makes the carnival on the Canaries so special is that each local district has its celebrations in turn, so the festivities last for several weeks!
  
  The keenest revellers start with their carnival celebrations at the end of January, with the beginning of Shrovetide, and then follow the festivities around the island. There are no limits to the costume design, so free rein is given to imagination and any personage or thing can serve as a pretext for a blunt masquerade or prank.
  
  The various carnival celebrations in the municipalities are more than just popular festivals, they are fantastic shows with extensive programmes of activities and festivities, generally starting with an opening speech (pregón) full of humour and irony (if you understand the language). Then, during the weeks leading to the climax celebration of the last carnival weekend – before Ash Wednesday – there follow competitions for the ‘murgas’ (typical amateur carnival bands), ‘comparsas’ (Brazilian-like amateur carnival dancers) and music groups, mixed with many other events such as song contests, comedy shows, etc.
  www.lpacarnaval.com
  

• Semana Santa (Holy Week)

  March/April
  During the 'Semana Santa' – the week before Easter – you will be able to see solemn pre-Easter processions, where sacred icons and religious statues are carried through the villages and towns.

• Fiesta del Queso del Flor (Festival of the 'Flower Cheese')

  30 April-07 May
  The small town of Santa Maria de Guia celebrates this annual festival in honour of its renowned speciality cheese, the 'Flower Cheese', with a lot of traditional music and dance, and of course plenty of cheese!

• Día de Canarias (Canarian Day)

  30 May
  On this day, the emphasis is on the expression of popular culture, with events such as Canarian wrestling (Lucha Canaria), stick-fighting and folk music and dancing.

• Fiesta del Carmen

  16 July
  All ports in Gran Canaria honour the Virgin Mary, patron of fishermen, but especially so in Arguineguin, Puerto de Mogán, Puerto de la Aldea and Gáldar, where celebrations can last up to one week. Statues of the Blessed Virgin are taken out to sea in processions of decorated boats.

• Bajada de la Rama ('Bringing Down the Branches')

  04 August
  This colourful fiesta, with its roots in the Guanches’ rain dance, is one of the oldest on the island, and is celebrated in great style, mainly in Agaete and Puerto de las Nieves (the port of Agaete). Villagers carry pine branches from the mountains down to the sea and in line with ancient custom, thrash the waves with them in an effort to bring rain.

• Pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Pines in Teror

  06.-08. September
  This, the most important religious festival in the Canaries, is celebrated in honour of Our Lady of the Pines, the Patron of the Canaries. Pilgrims from all over Gran Canaria come to Teror to pay reverence to Our Lady, offering fresh harvest produce in an evening procession. Gran Canaria's most popular religious festival is a blend of religious rituals and earthly pleasures.

• Fiesta de la Virgen del Rosario (Festival of Our Lady of the Rosary)

  05 October
  A traditional festival held in Agüimes, with Canarian wrestling, stick fights, plough-pulling contests, a battle with flowers, folk dancing and singing. It is also a custom at this festival to sprinkle one another with water and scatter ‘Gofio’ (roasted grains).

• Fiestas de la Naval (Festival of the Sea)

  October (2nd Saturday)
  Maritime processions by the sea in Las Palmas and other ports commemorate the victory of the Spanish over the British admiral Sir Francis Drake in 1595.

• Fiesta de Santa Lucia (Feast day of Saint Lucia)

  13 December
  This Swedish winter festival combines Scandinavian with Canarian traditions and is principally celebrated in Las Palmas, with a whole week of street parties. Churches and villages throughout the island are illuminated with numerous lights at this time.

• Further information

  Further information on Gran Canaria and the various events on the island:
  www.grancanaria.com