There is usually something entertaining going on and, if you are visiting Gran Canaria on holiday, you will want to know what events and festivals are going to coincide with your trip. The weather and climate are also important but Canarians never cancel a party, no matter what the weather is doing.
The Canarian fiestas are highly enjoyable and they are all different. Drinking, eating and lots of noise usually accompany them but that is all part of the fun! There is also some interesting history behind various Canarian fiestas and it is interesting to discover what these stories are. If you like to try Canarian cooking you might be interested in the cheese festival or if you like to really let your hair down and party what about the summer water fight in Telde? There are fiestas for all tastes and ages.
The following list is being added to all the time, so it is worth bookmarking this page to make sure you are up to date with the local fiestas, parties and events.
| Festival | Date in 2011 | Public Holiday | Notes |
| New Year’s Day | 1st January | Yes | A day of rest to sleep off the previous night’s excesses |
| Epiphany | 5th January | Yes | |
| Kings’ Day (Día de los Reyes) | 6th January | Yes | When Canarians give and receive their Christmas presents |
| Las Palmas Carnival 2011 | 15th Feb – 12th March | No | Mostly in Parque Catalina, Las Palmas |
| Carnaval Opening Speech | 18th Feb | No | In Parque Catalina, Las Palmas at 10pm |
| Carnival Queen Gala | 25th February | No | In Parque Catalina, Las Palmas at 10pm |
| Carnival Drag Queen Gala | 4th March | No | In Parque Catalina, Las Palmas at 9pm |
| Great Carnival Parade | 5th March | No | In Las Palmas |
| Burial of the Sardine | 12th March | No | A very Canarian fiesta, where a “sardine” is symbolically buried (or blown up!) At Las Canteras at 9pm |
| Festival of Almond Blossom | 11th to 13th February | No | In Valsequillo |
| Maspalomas Carnival | 17th – 27th March | No | |
| St Joseph’s Day | 19th March | Yes | Called San José in Spanish. Also this date is Father’s Day in the Canaries. |
| Holy Thursday | 31st March | Yes | |
| Good Friday | 1st April | Yes | |
| Aborigines’ Day | 29th April | No | Music, dancing and ceremonies commemorating the Guanches’ defeat of the Spanish |
| Cheese Festival | 30th April – 7th May | No | In Santa Maria de Guia |
| Labour Day | 1st May | Yes | |
| Canarias Day | 30th May | Yes | Everything is closed on this date (except tourist shops/bars/restaurants) and there are parties everywhere! |
| Gay Pride | 6th – 15th May | No | In Maspalomas. The parade will be on Saturday 14th May |
| Fiesta del Carmen | 17th July | No | Fiesta for sailors and mariners |
| Bringing Down the Branches | 4th August | No | In Agaete and Puerto de las Nievas |
| Asunción de la Virgin | August 15th | Yes | Feast of the Assumption, Dia de la Candelaria, procession in Ingenio |
| Water Fight in Lomo Magullo | August | No | Exact date to be confirmed. Takes place in Telde. |
| Fiesta del Charco | 7th – 11th September | No | Festival of the Lagoon, in Puerto de la Aldea |
| Nuestra Señora del Pino | 6th – 8th September | Yes | Lady of the Pine (this festival is on a different day in each Canary island) – in Teror |
| Fiesta de la Naval | 2nd October | No | Festival of the sea. Usually the 2nd Saturday in October. Held in Las Palmas. |
| National Day | Mid October | Yes | A bank holiday all over Spain |
| Fiesta of Our Lady of the Rosary | 5th October | No | In Aguimes |
| All Saints’ Day | 1st November | Yes | |
| Day of the Spanish Constitution | 6th December | Yes | A bank holiday all over Spain |
| Immaculate Conception | 8th December | Yes | A Catholic holiday |
| Saint Lucia Day | 13th December | Yes | A Catholic holiday |
| Christmas Day | 25th December | Yes | A day of rest to sleep off the excesses of December 24th (when the Canarians eat their Christmas dinner) |
There are two types of fiestas in the Canaries – gazetted holidays (the official public holidays decided by the Government of Spain) and local festivals which depend on the Catholic calendar.
Photo by Mataparda
The Canarians like to celebrate at the weekends when possible and Canarian fiestas can go on until the early hours. Some Canarian fiestas are arranged at the last minute and you won’t find them on any list of events in the Canaries… sometimes these spur-of-the-moment type parties and celebrations are the most fun out of all of them but please do bear with us. As soon as we know the official dates we will post them here. 🙂
See also Festivals 2010 and Festivals 2012.
Hello there,
I wondered if you had any idea yet of the dates for the 2011 Carnivals, in particular, Maspalomas. By my reckoning the carnival in Las Palmas will end on 13/3 as Mardi Gras is 9/3 so Maspalomas will kick off on 31/3
You could be right. Gran Canaria is notorious for announcing carnival dates right at the last minute! As soon as I know the dates I’ll post them on here.
Please advice me (if you know it already) th date of the carnaval 2011 at Playa de Ingles
Thank you
Hi Michel,
It will be in early or mid-March but the exact dates haven’t been released yet.
Victoria
I have read that the Maspalomas carnival 2011 is due to take place between 17 and 27 March. There is more information on the government Maspalomas website: http://turismo.maspalomas.com/carnaval_en.shtml
Hi, could anybody please tell me when the gay pride carnival in gran canaria is happening in 2011? and if anybody knows the date of the actual parade, thank you.
It’s on in Maspalomas from May 6 until May 15 and the parade is on May 14.
any suggestion on public transport use to travel around gran canaria? im staying at playa de ingles and i would like to see the more of the island.
Have a look at this post: https://www.cunningcanary.com/1189/public-transport/
Hey Victoria we are heading to Playas des Ingles for new Year. where are the bars and places to go for the night…much appreciated Julie