Carnaval in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Carnival in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

The Carnival of Gran Canaria is celebrated around the months of February and March all over the island. The first festivities are those that occur in the city where a lot of the celebrations take place such as the music parades, kids troupe competitions, adult troupe competitions, election galas for choosing the Carnival Queen, the 'murgas' contest (murgas are huge groups of people playing musical instruments and singing), the day carnival, a dog carnival, a drag queen celebration, a body painting contest, the "cabalgata" (the main parade) and the Burial of the Sardine, as well as the carnival nights, carnival Tuesdays, and the weekends. And now I will describe what I like the most about these events and how they are done, and what advice I think you'll need to do it yourself.

Pasacalles

The pasacalles take place in the street to liven up the city and to let everyone know that Carnival has begun. With a lot of percussive music, you'll find male and female dancers all over the different streets of the city, dancing and singing. I would advice you to go if you want to really feel the vibrations from the drums inside you. A lot of colourful clothes.

The Queen Selection Gala

The Queen's Gala is where loads of girls wear the queen costumes that they have been preparing all year. They wear these costumes at the first Carnival event and compete with the other girls. It's worth a watch because seeing such cringey costumes made by these girls deserves your attention. This is often televised and you can also go to Santa Catalina Park to see it, but you have to buy entry beforehand. I would recommend that you go there very early in order to get one, as they sell out very very very quickly.

The Troupe Gala

On the same main stage where they choose the Queen, they hold the troupe competitions there. In this event, 20 male and female dancers show off what they've practised all year. They perform scandalous choreography and you'll see that they all move in time all together, it looks amazing.

The Murgas Contest

The murgas contest consists of various groups of "carnivallers" that have prepared songs with their own lyrics over the past year, and the lyrics that complain about politics, things that are currently happening in the country, and their rivalry with the island Tenerife tend to dominate their songs. Group after group of murgas take to the stage and compete for a predetermined amount of time. There are various different awards for these events, for example the best song, best costume, originality... If you're an Erasmus student you might struggle understanding the lyrics because they all sing at the same time and sometimes you can't distinguish between the voices very well. However, it's fun to watch them sing and how they work out how to do the songs.

The Day Carnival

Here, it's obligatory that you wear a costume, walk out in the street in costume, and it doesn't matter that what you're doing is ridiculous because it will be the best kind of fun. Go out in the streets of Vegueta and enjoy the music.

Indianos

The origin of this celebration is from the island of La Palma, and it has been brought over the carnivals here. It consists of dressing in white, completely in white and everyone goes to the area of Guiniguada, buys talcum powder and the band of Agaete comes down too. Then, everyone starts throwing the powder up in the air. For your own health, I would recommend that you take goggles and also something to cover your ears with, and a mask for your nose and mouth. One thing I will tell you is what you're there, you'll be looking through a white cloud with your eyes full of powder. It's very fun and there's a good vibe amongst all the participants.

Drag Queen Gala

The Drag Queen Gala is internationally known because of its celebration on this island. Men do this show on the stage and they wear a costume in honour of a very specific matter. They go onto the stage in platforms that are a good few inches tall. They perform one role, or various roles, from films, songs, telenovelas and they end up half naked on the stage. They use a lot of makeup and paint, and almost no clothes. When you see it, you'll figure it out for yourselves. If you want to go and see this gala on stage, it's truly impossible to get entry, as they run out a mere few minutes after they go on sale on the internet.

Body painting

They paint men and women's bodies. Pure art.

Cabalgata - the main parade

The whole island has been waiting for this day. You have to go. There are more than 100 floats playing powerful music with people on them that travel through the city's streets from one point to another. When we go out for this event, we walk behind the floats (convertible guaguas (buses) and lorries) where everyone comes together and dances and shouts to the music. I recommend that if you go to this parade, you wear a light costume that doesn't take up a lot of space as a lot of people go to this event and you can end up practically without a costume. After the festival you will end up in Santa Catalina Park where you'll then stay all night with heaps of people.

The Burial of the Sardine

It's the last festival that they do, and it's like the parade but with less floats. They carry a sardine on a float and burn it on the Playa de Las Canteras. Sincerely the part I like this most about this event is going to the beach, sitting with friends and watching the sardine burn.

Carnival Nights

These are the so-called "mogollones" that are celebrated at the weekends which is what helps create Carnival. Go to all of them if you can, and if you change your costume, even better! People tend to host a botellón in the street, but please, throw your bottles in the bin and don't just leave what you brought in the street. Do you like my costume? Sexy right? That day I almost came home without legs, those heels did me dirty. I had to walk home barefoot, walking very carefully through the streets. Never again.

Recommendations

If you go to the "mogollones" and you see that the clock is about to strike 5 in the morning, and there aren't many people left, it's time to go home, as you will only find drunks and other types of people who aren't part of the Carnival (but it's not always like this).

If you're the creative type, make your own costume. I personally like to make my own costume, I think it's better to do it yourself and I enjoy the satisfaction of doing so.

Go to the university drinks stalls or stands which is where the best atmosphere is.