Most local fiestas take place in summertime, and here’s a guide to what’s in store during the summer.
MAY
Canary Day falls on the 30th May, with celebrations all over the island. There are also a number of smaller local fiestas this month. For example, Uga celebrates St. Isidore on the 15th, Tao honours St. Rita on the 22nd and Montaña Blanca parades its image of Mary, Help of Christians, on the 24th. Fiestas like this will take place in small villages and barrios of Arrecife throughout the summer.
JUNE
CORPUS CHRISTI
Corpus Christi falls on the Sunday after the 22nd of June (the 26th, this year). The night before, local groups from Arrecife create elaborate “carpets” out of coloured salt on the streets around the church of San Ginés. After the midday mass, the virgin is paraded over every carpet, and children scramble to fill bottles with the coloured salt.
SAN JUAN
St John’s Day falls on the 23rd of June and is a midsummer celebration celebrated with bonfires and barbecues all over the island on the evening of the 22nd. The most spectacular bonfire, however, takes place in Haría, where the “Devils of Haría” perform their fire dance and burn a dummy called Don Facundo. Facundo has been officially pardoned by the Mayor for the last two years, but is unlikely to escape this year.
SAN PEDRO
Macher and Maguéz celebrate St. Peter’s feast day on the days leading up to 29th June.
JULY
SAN MARCIAL
St. Marcial is the patron saint of Lanzarote because the first French invaders on the island built the island’s first church in Femes in his honour. Femes still celebrates his feast day on 7th July.
VIRGIN OF CARMEN
The patron of fishermen is the most important fiesta of July, celebrated in Arrieta, Playa Blanca, Valterra and La Santa on and around the 16th of July.
AUGUST
VIRGEN DE LAS NIEVES
One of the year’s most beautiful fiestas takes place on 5th August at the lonely Ermita de las Nieves on Famara’s clifftop. Pilgrims arrive from all directions, some even scaling the cliff itself, to see the sunlight gleaming on the image of the virgin, dressed in white and gold as she is paraded around the church. Last month, the Canarian Government finally lifted all regional restrictions on events and gatherings, permitting fiestas to go ahead as normal for the first time in over two years. Most local fiestas take place in summertime, and here’s a guide to what’s in store over the following months. Celebrations
PUERTO DEL CARMEN
The second Sunday of August sees the belated celebration of the Virgin of Carmen in Puerto del Carmen’s old town. The culminating event is a glorious maritime parade of local boats, tooting their horns and sounding their whistles as they accompany the virgin on her short voyage.
SAN GINÉS
Arrecife’s patron saint is celebrated with several events that usually take place around the Charco de San Ginés.
CALETA DE FAMARA, SACRED HEART
Famara’s fiesta is held in early August, and the most famous event follows the procession of the virgin along the beach and onto a boat. It’s a water party where Lanzarote’s young people forget everything they’ve ever been told about social distancing. And we mean young – if you’re over 30, you’re probably past it.
SEPTEMBER
LOS DOLORES
15th September brings Lanzarote’s most important religious fiesta – a massive pilgrimage to Mancha Blanca to honour the Virgin of Los Dolores, known here as Our Lady of the Volcanoes, and her role in the island’s only miracle.
This is the event where Lanzarote flaunts its identity and heritage with pride and joy. All are welcome, but traditional dress is compulsory.
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