The Canary Guide #WeekendTips 17-19 February 2023

It’s all about carnival celebrations this February weekend, 17-19 February, on Gran Canaria. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gáldar, and Agüimes continue their celebrations and joining them this Friday, La Aldea and Ingenio start their festivities too. A chance to also enjoy the year’s first full carnival parade taking place this Saturday in Gáldar.  There are always plenty of markets to visit and explore around the island. This weekend, with a little chill in the air, our top tip is the wonderful ‘Mercado de Guía‘, an indoor market, open from Friday – Sunday.

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baby mangos of season 2023 in Mogán

Upcoming events:
2-12 March • Carnival Santa Lucía de Tirajana
4-5 March • European Cheese Fair in Tejeda
10-12 March • XIX Southeast Fair in Carrizal
9-19 March • Maspalomas International Carnival
23-26 March • Costa Mogán Carnival 2023

Upcoming bank holidays:
Tuesday 21 February is a local bank holiday in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Brígida, Valleseco, Teror, Tejeda, Santa María de Guía, Moya, Arucas, Firgas: Shrove Tuesday – Martes de Carnaval.
Thursday 23 February is a local bank holiday in Agüimes: Carnival Thursday –  Jueves de Carnaval.

*** Check out the regular listings and markets and a range of other events, including carnivals on our main calendar at The Canary Guide website***

AEMET weather forecast for Saturday 18 February 2023

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After already experiencing pretty much most of the weather conditions possible this month, sunshine, rain and now even snow at the summit, the weekend weather forecast continues to look a little unstable across the island.

It’s always amazing to witness how the weather can change, especially in winter,  even just driving 30 minutes from one place to another. Blizzards at the summits and blazing sunshine on the southern beaches.

A little or a lot of rain, cloud cover, sunshine, all possible scenarios for the upcoming weekend on Gran Canaria, as Spring rolls relentlessly towards us.

 

The Canary Guide

Carnival Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

17-19 February

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is celebrating carnival between 10 February – 5 March 2023.

The glamorous era of the legendary New York nightclub «Studio 54» is the theme for this year’s festivities.  Though every type of costumery is to be expected!

See more events for Carnival Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. 

Next Tuesday is “Martes de Carnaval”, (Shrove Tuesday/Mardis Gras) and also a bank holiday in the municipality of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

From 12:00 daytime celebrations around Santa Catalina Park and later, at 21:00 the International Body Painting contest.”

♥ Friday, 17 February: The adult comparsa competition at 20:30
Rhythm and colour will arrive in Santa Catalina this Friday at the hands of the adult comparsas. Lianceiros will be in charge of opening the contest that will be presented by journalists Ibán Padrón and Alicia Suárez. Secondly, it will be the turn of the Nuevo Estilo, whose components will be followed by those from Yoruba, Baracoa, Kisamba and Chiramay. The event will be broadcast live by Televisión Canaria, as well as can be followed via streaming through the YouTube playlist and the Carnival’s social networks.
Santa Catalina Park. Free admission.

♥ Saturday 18 February: the Grand final of Murgas at 20:30. (ticket event, all tickets already reserved)
The contest can be followed in full, live on Televisión Canaria

♥ Sunday 19 February: The Children’s gala at 18:30
The finishing touch of the week will be put on by the little ones, in one of the most tender galas of the carnival. Seven participants will wear fun and colourful fantasies on stage and one of them will be crowned at the end of the night as Children’s Queen or King of the “Studio 54” Carnival. An evening introduced by the 2020 Carnival Queen, Minerva Hernández, and a group of child performers —students from acting schools in the city. From home, you can also watch live on TVC or stream through the YouTube playlist and social networks of the Carnival.
Santa Catalina Park. Free admission.


The Carnival party nights will be celebrated in the surroundings of the Plaza de la Música. On Fridays and Saturdays from 21:00 to 03:00 with two different stages (Disco Salsa on Plaza de la Música and Urban Dance on Parque el Rincón ).These stages will also host different Daytime Carnival sessions. All concerts are free

♥ Friday 17 February: NOCHE DE CARNAVAL at 21:00
The first Carnival Night of the week will feature performances by Qué Chimba, Armonía Show and Dj Promaster on the Disco Salsa stage; while Dance Urban will give up its tables simultaneously to Dj Abián Reyes and Dj Aitor Cruz. The musical appointments will culminate in the area at three in the morning.
Plaza de la Música and Litoral El Rincón park. Free admission.

♥ Saturday 18 February: NOCHE DE CARNAVAL at 21:00
The party will start on Saturday on the Disco Salsa stage with “Tributes with a flavour to a woman”. A project that will pay tribute to two Cuban artists, Celia Cruz and Gloria Estefan, through the musical proposals “Yo viviré” and “Oye mi canto”. Dj Red Bull will put the icing on the cake to a night in which, in parallel, you can enjoy sessions by Dj Vegax and Toni Bob on the Dance Urban stage. The concerts will end at 03:00.
Plaza de la Música and Litoral El Rincón park. Free admission.

 

Carnival Gáldar 10-25 February

Gáldar is celebrating Carnival until 25 February 2023. This Saturday the parade, the first of the year’s large street celebrations on the island.

The theme for the festivities is “Los Locos Años 60”, (The Swinging Sixties aka The Crazy Sixties).
See more events for Carnival Gáldar 

♥ Friday, February 17 
-“Noche de Chirimurgas”at 20:30, the night of chirimurgas at Plaza de Santiago.
-Mogollón at 23:30 , a pre-party for the parade day with the orchestra Panamaribe at Plaza de Santiago

♥ Saturday, February 18 · Parade from 18:00-21:00
Gran Cabalgata del Carnaval de Gáldar 2023.
The Carnival parade, with a new 2 km modified route, which has allowed the large-format floats to join. The route will be from the entrance to Gáldar on the Paseo de Los Guanartemes to Huertas del Rey along the Bajada de Las Guayarminas.

There are extra buses between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Gáldar 

at 21:00 The Parade Party in Recinto Cultural La Quinta with DJ Abián Reyes (21.00h), ELVIS CRESPO concert (22.00h) and Orquesta La Sabrosa (01.00h).
(Non-residents of the city may also purchase their tickets at entradas.galdar.es at a price of €20.)

♥ Sunday, February 19 · Family Day Carnival
-at 12:00 Carnival Announcer Parade will tour the streets of the historic centre. Then, different musical performances throughout the day with Salvapantallas, Los Lola, Tribute to Juan Luis Guerra, and SkatMan.
-Children’s Play Park between 11:00-19:00 with bouncy castles, workshops, and a foam party in the Recinto Cultural La Quinta.

Carnival Agüimes 11 February – 5 March

The municipality of Agüimes is celebrating Carnival until 5 March 2023. The allegory for the festivities is ‘The Great Musical’, ‘El Gran Musical’, dedicated to the great musicals of cinema and theatre. See more events for Carnival Agüimes.

 

On Friday at Plaza del Rosario
at 20:30 Los Serenquenquenes
at 21:00 Final of the 39th Murgas competition
After the competition ‘Noche del Murguero’ with DJ Awayro

On Saturday Daytime Carnival in Playa de Arinaga
between 11:00-20:00 on Avenida Polizón there is a play park, entertainment and workshops.
at 12:15 Pet costume contest, at 13:15 performance by La Trova and at 14:30 lively carnival street parade, music at 16:15 and at 18:00 “burning the octopus”- parade from Soco Negro. Afterparty with DJ Promaster at 18:00.




On Sunday: Children’s play park between 12:00-14:30 at Plaza del Rosario

Carnival Ingenio 17-26 February 2023

Ingenio kicks off their 55th Carnival celebrations this Friday 17 February.
The Carnival of Villa de Ingenio allegory is “Carnaval de los Cuentos”, Carnival of Tales.
See more events for Carnival Ingenio

Friday 17 February: Pregón, the opening proclamation at 20:30 in Centro Cultural Federico García Lorca.
“Noche Blanca” at Plaza de La Candelaria at 22:00. Traditional Canarian music and dancing wearing white clothes and enlivened by the music group “Pa’l Ingenio”.

Saturday 18 February: The 5th Day Carnaval at Plaza de la Candelaria between 13:00-21:00 with Dj Ulises Acosta, Los 600, Los Lola, Los Aseres y Los Salvapantallas.

19-20 February: VIII Murgas contest at 20:30 Plaza de La Candelaria

Next Wednesday evening, 22 February, the 55th Burial of the Sardine of the Carnival of Villa de Ingenio 2023.
Burial of the Sardine parade with floats and all the groups (Batucadas, Comparsas, Music Bands, municipal Murgas and the winning murgas of the VIII Murgas de Ingenio Contest). Parade starts at 20:30

Route: Antonia Sebastiana Espino, Juan XXIII, Plaza de la Candelaria, Dr. Juan Espino Sánchez, José Suárez Martín, Francisco Pérez Ramírez, Calvo Sotelo, C/ Párroco Juan Ramírez, C/ Príncipe Felipe, C/ Mayor Antonio Hernández Rodríguez, Avenida de Valencia, C/ León y Castillo, C/ Francisco Pérez Ramírez, C/ José Suárez Martín, C/ Dr. Espino Sánchez and Plaza de la Candelaria.

Carnival La Aldea 17 February – 18 March 2023

La Aldea de San Nicolás, the westernmost municipality of the island, is also starting their Carnival festivities this Friday, 17 February. 
The allegory for this year’s festivities is ‘El Olimpo’, The Olympus. See more events for Carnival La Aldea

The carnival events begin on Friday morning with the traditional carnival parade walk of the educational centres, in which the students will be dressed as in the past, reminiscent of the traditional “mascaritas”. Plaza de La Alameda at 10:00 *** suspended ***

On Saturday, the Traditional Carnival of La Aldea arrives with the parade of males and goats without missing the masquerade dance, where the music groups Los Mayores, La Aldea, Un buchito de café and Teror, liven up the festivities that will begin at 19:00 on Calle Real and Plaza de La Alameda.

 

Not to be missed!

Carnival Tuesday 21.2. Once again, La Aldea de San Nicolás, with the help of the Community Development Cultural Project, will be the scene of one of the few Carnival celebrations on the Islands which dates back to before the beginning of the last century.

At 18:30 on Calle Real, children dressed in the skins of goats, with horns and cowbells like cattle, will be accompanied by a shepherd.  A traditional and typical masquerade (dressed in old costumes, with their faces covered in a veil or chin cloth, cane in hand and a basket for collecting goodies) while creating thousands of pranks to get attention, asking for a pesetita or a small egg to make tortillas. Men will be dressed as women and women as men.

Market of Guía 17-19 February

The market building of Santa Maria de Guía just celebrated its 1st anniversary last December. This indoor market, “Mercado de Guía” is perfect to visit no matter what the weather is. Not only you can enjoy stalls from local producers, but there is also a gastro market and always some extra activities taking place.

Specials this weekend:
On Friday: from 21:00 Drag Kiowa and Drag Vulcano and DJ Dani d Enigma
On Saturday: Virtual reality session from 11:00

New opening hours from 13 February 2023:

Market:
Fridays 08:00-14:30 and 16:30-19:30,
Saturday and Sunday 08:00-15:00

Gastro Market:
Friday 17:00-02:00
Saturday 11:00-02:00
Sunday 11:00-18:00

Markets in the south of Gran Canaria

• Friday is always market day in Playa de Mogán in the morning. This popular market is in one of the prettiest fishing harbour towns on Gran Canaria, very popular with tourists.

• On Saturday, the Maspalomas market offers all kinds of textiles, Objet dart and other articles, located now in a new venue at Parque Europeo in Playa del Inglés, while the municipal market is being re-built. It is one of the markets most enjoyed among visitors along with Friday’s in Playa de Mogán;
El Mercadillo de Maspalomas is on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 08:00 to 14:00.

• On Saturday in Arguineguín, a small second-hand market on Plaza Negra (the marketplace) in the morning 09:00-14:00 with a wide range pre-loved treasures.

• On Sunday, the “rastro” second-hand market, ****The second-hand market now takes place in the Ciudad deportiva de Maspalomas, next to football field 2 and close to Pepe Chiringo and Parque Sur de Maspalomas.

• This Sunday, the very popular biweekly farmers’ Market, ‘Mercado Agrícola y ganadero de San Fernando‘ will be held in the parking area next to the football Stadium and the municipal offices from 08:00 – 14:00. A chance to purchase fresh, locally-grown food and value-added produce directly from growers or producers —  an authentic retail experience.

Live music this weekend

CARNIVAL LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA 

The Carnival party nights will be celebrated in the surroundings of the Plaza de la Música. On Fridays and Saturdays from 21:00 to 03:00 with two different stages (Disco Salsa on Plaza de la Música and Urban Dance on Parque el Rincón ).These stages will also host different Daytime Carnival sessions. All concerts are free

♥ Friday 17 February: NOCHE DE CARNAVAL at 21:00
The first Carnival Night of the week will feature performances by Qué Chimba, Armonía Show and Dj Promaster on the Disco Salsa stage; while Dance Urban will give up its tables simultaneously to Dj Abián Reyes and Dj Aitor Cruz. The music will culminate in the area at three in the morning.
Plaza de la Música and Litoral El Rincón park. Free admission.

♥ Saturday 18 February: NOCHE DE CARNAVAL at 21:00
The party will start on Saturday on the Disco Salsa stage with “Tributes with a flavour to a woman”. A project that will pay tribute to two Cuban artists, Celia Cruz and Gloria Estefan, through the musical proposals “Yo viviré” and “Oye mi canto”. Dj Red Bull will put the icing on the cake to a night in which, in parallel, you can enjoy sessions by Dj Vegax and Toni Bob on the Dance Urban stage. The concerts will end at 03:00.
Plaza de la Música and Litoral El Rincón park. Free admission.


 

THE 19th HOLE MELONERAS

Bar & Grill in the shopping centre Varadero in Meloneras. Live Music every night from 22:00 

Friday: Dan & Tess
Saturday: Chris Mooney
Sunday: Gary Lithgow

 

KELLY MARLOW

The astounding US Rock sensation, now a local star on Gran Canaria, playing out to an international audience and live across the airwaves.

On Saturday at (ROCKABELLA in Playa del Inglés at 18:00-21:00 ** cancelled) and later at THE SHAMROCK BAR at 22:30
On Sunday at THE SHAMROCK BAR in Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria at 22:30

 

 


 

BARBACOA SHOW BAR – EUROPA CENTRE IN PUERTO RICO DE GRAN CANARIA

Drinks, Food, Children’s play area, piano bar, sports, and much more. and not forgetting the Sunday Roast Dinner from 1pm to 6pm.
Open every day from 08:00-02:00  

On Friday: ABBA Gold Tribute 
On Saturday: Tom Jone & UB40 Tribute 
On Sunday: The Champions Rock’n Roll Show

 

Barbacoa Piano Bar & Cocktail Lounge Alex Buta from 21:00,  Friday to Sunday

 





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