Things to do in Tenerife in July 2012

What to Expect

No doubt about it, July is summer on Tenerife.  Rainfall is virtually non-existent and the days are long and sunny.  While temperatures soar in mainland Europe, on the island they reach a pleasant 30C and unless there is a calima (a hot wind from the Sahara, which pushes temperatures up) it stays around 30C for the next couple of months: hot but not oppressive.

Spanish schools close for their summer holidays at the end of June so visitors to Tenerife in July can increase, bringing the total close to a million. Traditionally Spanish holidaymakers used to head to the north of the island but in recent years more and more are choosing to stay in the south.

July Highlights

Each year, many fishing villages and none more so than Puerto de la Cruz come alive to honour the Virgen del Carmen, the patron saint of fishermen.  Thousands of people gather at the port to watch locals carry a statue of the Virgin Mary to a small boat, preceded by dancers in traditional dress. Dozens of fishing boats, sounding their horns, accompany the Virgin and sail round the coast and as they return there are stunning firework displays. Apart from Puerto in the north, the best places to see this are Los Cristianos, and Las Galletas in the south of the island.

8th Pilgrimage of San Benito Abad This popular fiesta has been declared of “National Tourist Interest” and takes place the second Sunday of July, starting at the San Benito Abad chapel and continues through the historical centre of La Laguna. Part of the pilgrimage consists of seven women each wearing the costume for the different Islands. Youths carry flowers and fruits as an offering to the saint, carts and street musicians all add to the party atmosphere. The main event of the festival is the carts that tour the streets handing out boiled eggs, chops, gofio and Canarian wrinkly, potatoes and fruit.

The Laguna pays tribute to San Benito Abad in the pilgrimage through the city streets, in a demonstration of the best of Canary Island folklore © EFE

6, 7 and 8 July  The Day of Traditions, Chirche. The village will wind back the clock to the 1950s and  people re-enact the lives of the Canarians from over half a century ago. Old houses are open so visitors can learn how the inhabitants used to live. Visitors can also see traditional crafts and taste typical foods.  Of most interest to the visitor will be the events of Sunday 8 July. From ten o’clock inhabitants will demonstrate traditional activities like roasting wheat and coffee, grinding gofio, milking goats  and dressmaking among other things. Eight houses and a courtyard will be set-up, giving a glimpse of rural life in the mid twentieth century. Visitors will also be able to purchase traditional foods, drinks and handicrafts. Then at 2pm an open-air dance – a chance to experience or re-live, depending on your age,  the music of the era.

Dia de la Trilla Is an ingenious way to get the wheat threshed while displaying agricultural practices that haven’t changed in hundreds of years. The wheat is spread out, horses race around, then children get on boards and are dragged around by a couple of oxen.  In the process, the wheat is threshed and the locals sell homemade jams and cheeses from their stalls in El Tanque.

Other Fiestas, Romerías and Pilgrimages taking place in July 2012 are

22^nd Romería de Santa Ana y San Joaquín in El Ortigal, La Laguna
25^th Santiago Apóstol Los Realejos Alto
29^th Romería de las Nieves in Finca España, La Laguna
Ntra Sra del Carmen de La Cartaya  2^nd week of July
Santa Marta Las Toscas  last week in July

1st – 6^th La Carpa de la Salsa S/C  Plaza de la Candelaria. 12:00 – 18:00 Free admission

2^ND Summer Camp - Infant and Primary School Luis Alvarez Cruz, Las Galletas will take place during the months of July and August, Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 14:00 hours, for up to 100 children between 4 and 12 years of age. Covering Workshops in Art Attack Craft Workshop.Computer, Cooking, Reading motivation. Gardening, Theatre, Magic shop and experiments. Group games.

3^rd  - 21^st  July Chamber Music Festival of La Orotava. - 21:00

To 3^rd  Molledo’s Garlic and Tomato Fair Some of the best restaurants of Santiago del Teide are participating with delicious dishes prepared with these traditional products. Along the gastronomic route, you may find different activities such as courses, tastings, show cooking, children’s workshops and more.  Link to Programme 

4^th Magma Fest – Warm Up, Magma Centre Las Americas.  (more details Things to do in Tenerife – Theatre South of the Island Page 2 )

Regional Gastronomy Meetings Enjoy the cuisine of Tenerife, prepared with regional products and accompanied by local wines. The municipalities of the island and “Saborea Tenerife” are organizing “Muestras Gastronómicas Locales de Tenerife”, a gastronomic meeting which aims at creating a favorably environment for producers and consumers and a way for the tourist to get to know the local cuisine.

to 5th August – Los Realejos – Papa bonita

Cultural Friday - Granadilla de Abona, invites you to participate in the following activities

6th Visit the historical district of Santa Cruz
13th Visit the historic centre of La Laguna
20th Visit the museum Casa de Los Balcones in La Orotava
27th The Museum of Nature and Man and Space Cultural TEA 

These visits will also be complemented with excursions to Lake Martiánez of Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz Marine Park. The departure time will be at 9.00 pm and return at 18.00  To participate call 922759981 or email participacionciudadana @granadilladeabona.org. The price is 3€ per activity

6^th  Juan Luis Guerra Concert - Municipal Football Annex Antonio Dominguez, Playa Las Americas

6th, 7th and 8th The first Girl’s Football Tournament Pim Pam 7 has joined with Amate, (love yourself) in an effort to help their fight against breast cancer. It will take place at Ofra Municipal playing field, located off the highway at La Cuesta-Taco in La Laguna.

6^th Pepsi Music Festival + Garage 49 + DyM (Beat Box) + Indica Sativa Herques. Güimar 18:00.

7^th Juanjo Martin – Vertigo Tour - Annex Stadium, Playa de Las Americas top Spanish DJ and regular in Ibiza will be performing with other top DJ’s including Markus Krati, Mari Ferrari, James Padilla, Toufik and residents of the festival Santee and Kike Peña. Ticket options involve a free bar, €28 (€33 on night) VIP €40 (€45 on night), 5 person bono €120 (€130 on night) Tickets HERE and  INFO HERE

7th Sabandeños Concert, Parque de El Polvorín de Taco and 28th at El Bataan - Admission Free

7^th XVII Edition of la Travesía a Nado  Swimming contest from Playa de La Arena to the beach of El Bajio of Puerto de Santiago.

6^th & 7^th VIII edition of the Youth Week” in the square Puerto de Santiago. On Friday activities will start 11:00 with workshops and activities including giant inflatable football field, formula one simulator, climbing wall and zip line. 16:00 Body Jamp, 17:00  ”III Championship Break Dance BEAT DA COSTA” 22:00 an evening of boxing. On 7^th from 22:00 free admission to “sixteenth Young Concert” with “Uncle Franklin” and “BNK” led by brothers Kelly Ebblis and Valdivia. To end the night there will be a disco until the wee hours.

 

7th- 8th Garachico Craft Fair

8 to 15th  ”IV European Games Islands Police and Fire 2012″ an event approved by the International Olympic Committee. The city of Puerto de la Cruz will welcome the participants, from all over the continent including United States, Dubai and Canada (the three non-European countries invited to this year).  The Games,  over 49 sports over the course of 9 days will also include all sorts of activities such as theme parties, exhibitions, tours, concerts and theme nights at Lake Martiánez, and food markets. This edition includes for the first time participation of civil guards and agents of private security forces.

11^th - 14th XXI International Festival Heineken Canarias Jazz & More (more details Things to do in Tenerife – Theatre North of the Island Page 3)

14^th MAGMAFEST - Magma Centre, Las Americas, (more details Things to do in Tenerife – Theatre South of the Island Page 2 )

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