| Like many of their mainland cousins,
Canarios kick back and celebrate at plenty of fiestas and ferias throughout
the year.
Carnaval: The Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Carnival is the popular festival with the longest tradition in the city.
Apart from the inhabitants of the island, thousands of tourists are attracted
by the fun and colour of the carnival celebrations, in search of something
more than just the sun, sea and sand that the city can also offer. Much
of the spectacle of the carnival revolves around the Carnival Queen, who
is elected in a grand gala that is held on a night considered one of the
high points of the carnival. It happens in February/March.
Holy Week: During the Semana Santa you
will be able to see solemn pre-Easter processions in many towns and cities
throughout the islands. This week usually happens in March or April
Fiesta de Nuestra Señora del Carmen:
This is held on the 4th and the 24th of July. The Ports of La Luz and
Las Palmas, the fishermen and the residents of La Isleta pay tribute to
their Patron Saint for the first fortnight in July.
The popular fervour that the Las Palmas city feels for this figure means
that all the celebrations are well attended. The biggest crowds are seen
at the maritime procession held on the 16th of July, an event that fills
the streets of this district from the moment that the figure, born on
the shoulders of bearers, leaves the parish church to be taken on board
a boat for its annual trip around the waters of the bay of Las Palmas
de Gran Canaria.
One of the elements that deserves a special mention are the carpets of
natural flowers made by many of the local residents for the occasion.
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