Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Carnival
Find your best costume! And be part of the fun of the Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. There will be three weeks of parties, galas like the Drag Queen, parades, the election of the Carnival Queen, and many activities full of joy and excitement in every street you walk down.
How to experience the Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?
The Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is a great festival that stands out for the joy and colour that is present in the streets, from the beach of Las Canteras to the neighbourhood of Vegueta. But, in the city centre, is where you will find people in costume, always ready to party.
It's three weeks of activities and fun. During this time, you can witness the gala of the queen and the children's queen, the Drag Queen gala, competitions of murgas, costumes and comparsas, the cavalcade, the burial of the sardine and much more.
In several of the acts that make up the Carnival, the participants perform impressive choreographies, full of creativity and passion.
Origin of the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Carnival
The first reference to the Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was in the year 1574, with a masked and costumed ball. This tradition continued for several centuries.
However, in the 20th century, state repression prevented the celebration of this type of festivities. But the locals kept this custom alive in a clandestine way, calling dances and parties, the attendees hid their disguises under sheets, until they reached the party venue.
Then, in 1976, the Carnival regained the street, when a resident of La Isleta called Manolo García contacted the civil governor of the province and obtained approval for this festival. It was then that a costume parade could be held after decades of being forbidden. And since then, the fiesta has continued to evolve, right up to the present day.
Take the opportunity to visit these places in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
If you're going to enjoy the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Carnival, you're guaranteed several days of fun. But if you want to make the most of your visit to get to know this beautiful city a little better, you can start with these places of interest.
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Cathedral. Also known as the Cathedral of Santa Ana. It is characterised by its twin towers. It was the first church built in all the Canary Islands.
- Pérez Galdós House-Museum. This is a traditional house from the 19th century and part of the 20th century. It is the house in which the famous author Benito Pérez Galdós was born and lived until 1862, and still houses some of his furniture and personal belongings.
Gastronomy of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is known for several reasons, one of them is its colourful and festive carnival, another reason is its delicious gastronomy. Therefore, you should not hesitate to try some of these dishes.
- Carne Fiesta: this dish is made with marinated pork meat, which has been cut into small pieces, salt, garlic and spices such as oregano, parsley, pepper, among others.
- Vieja con papas arrugadas: Vieja is a fish native to the Canary Islands, with an exquisite flavour and a great source of protein. You can prepare it as you prefer, fried, boiled or baked. It goes very well with wrinkled potatoes and green mojo.
