Not to be missed are the three top carnival events of February 2024 in the oldest Tenerife resort.

They are the hilarious Sardine spectacle on Wednesday 14th with the procession starting at 19h30 and the burial at 21h30. Then, there is Ponte Tacon the Men Maraton on Friday 16th as usual at 21h30 finishing with the Gran Coso Parade on Saturday 17th of February by 17h00 in the afternoon. More about these attractions, as follows.

The Carnival parade of 2023 was scheduled for February 25th at 4p.m. but started sometime after 5 p.m. on Avenida Colon to be finished by the Puerto Police head quarters. Thousands of tourists had come to watch with the new Carnival queen as a highlight.

Seating near Lago Martianez seemed to be totally sold out before 4.p.m., already. There, the hats of ladies and gentlemen reminded the days of the second decade of the XX century when this was a feature of elegance. History seems to repeat itself in 2023, not just in fashion.

The majority of locals was colorfully disguised and,  if only while watching on. A friend and I were surprised that the years of Corona restrictions had not dampened the general enthusiasm. However, perhaps the inflation of 2023 was to blame for less wagons and parade participants. By the way, the burrial of the Sardine as well as the Gay parade of 2023 on previous days had been about as much fun as ever before. Otherwise, a rather peculiar situation happened during the 2023 parade. A stone sculpture of a woman's bust had been placed in the location of the float where the 2nd lady of honour should have been standing. What happened to her remains the puzzle of Carnival 2023.

The most spectacular Tenerife carnival surroundings by far

Call them landscapes or Tenerife carnival surroundings. There can't be any doubt that they are unbeatable at the Puerto de la Cruz Carnival from Playa Martianez as far as Plaza de los Reyes Católicos.

Then, there aren't only the subtropical paradise surroundings of Avenida Colon, but also those of the Avenida Lavaggi where the carnival parade also shows up.

News for 2020: Its dates have been set between February 07 and March 01 while the last week brings the most important events that are preferred by tourists.

Puerto de la Cruz carnival 2020 main week agenda

• Sunday February 16 and 20 :Galas to elect first the Reina Infantil and then the adult carnival queens on the Muelle by the harbor
• Saturday Fabruary 22: Cabalgata anunciadora Opening Parade along the streets C/ José Campo Llarena, C/San Felipe, Plaza del Charco, C/Santo Domingo and C/Zamora ending at Plaza de la Constitución. The Cabalgata Anunciadora the announcing Carnival parade which had been suspended because sudden strong winds is now scheduled for Saturday March 07.
  More about two added days of the Puerto Cruz Carnival at latest news of Carnival on the biggest Canary Island which includes special public buses
• Tuesday, February 25: Rally del Valle de coches de Época Clasica and Vintage Car Rallye starting at Avda. Colón by the Lago Martianez and continuing through the Orotava Valley
• Wednesday February 26 : Sardine burial procession from opposite Lido Martianez to the Muelle i.e.the port of Puerto Cruz

• Thursday February 27 at 4 p.m. - 6.30 p.m. street show dancing of several Comparsa groups, most of which from Puerto de la Cruz a presentation that starts at La Adouana and proceeds via Calle San Juan, Calle Quintana, Paseo San Telmo, Avda Colon, Avda Familia Bethencourt y Molina

At 6p.m.: Matalaculeta snake event  in the Puerto Cruz hub first at the Windy corner above Calle Quintana, then on Plaza del Charco followed by more nooks around the Casco Old quarters. At 6 p.m. a day earlier this year: Reception of the German Carnival delegation from seven Rheinland Westphalia towns at Sala Andrómeda of the Lago Lido Martianez

• Friday February 28 at 8 p.m.: Gay Parade"Mascarita Ponte Tacón" 8cm-high Heel Gay Parade for men from Plaza Reyes Católicos via Paseo San Telmo past Plaza Europa to Plaza del Charco preceded by inscriptions and heel measuring on Plaza Reyes Católicos

• Saturday, March 01 around 4 p.m.: Coso Apotheosis main Puerto Cruz carnival street parade along Avda Colón, Plaza Reyes Católicos, Obispo Pérez Cáceres, Avda.Betancourt Molina, C/Zamora and Santo Domingo, La Marina, Plaza del  Charco, C/San Felipe and José Campo Llarena followed by Street Carnival and dance and concert on Plaza del Charco


• Sunday, March 02:  No Piñata this year but, activities for children and Transvestia events on Plaza Arco Iris by the Muelle at the harbor

Sunday, February 30: The Pinata with elderly parade abd the Elderly queen have been canceled.  Not so the children activities and the Frenesi Puerto Cruz Carnival Poster exhibition in Calle Perez Zamora 38 which started February 04

More Puerto de la Cruz Carnival pictures

The following photos of the Puerto carnival  will give you an idea of what to expect, although the new theme for 2019 is Space where Star Wars characters and other science fiction fantasy of the world of other planets will be welcome.

Marvel at 2017 scenes captured at the Costa Martianes where tropical palms, subtropical dragon trees and many exotic flowers abound.
   
A few paces further find the spot of the town's street funeral parlor of the Sardine which see here.

More beautiful Costa Martianez Gran Coso Apotheosis carnival photos

Underneath, admire an enchanting former Puerto Cruz Carnival theme at Calle Zamora by the town hall

History of the Tenerife Puerto de la Cruz carnival

Carnival  celebrations at the oldest Tenerife resort never really stopped. It continued slightly more low key dubbed as winter festivals.

This is what Don Francisco said to the Tenerife holiday home insider. He is the elderly man of one of the Tenerife estancos (special shops) by the ancient Puerto harbor.
  Don Francisco also mentioned the classic car parade which was already a Puerto carnival feature, way back last century. You find its link with photos and info under the main general topic of Tenerife attractions carnival on the bottom of this page.

Secret Puerto Carnivals?

We are told by the elderly gentleman from the little harbor shop that not all such masquerading events were behind closed doors. Not even after General Franco's law of 1936 that forebode all disguise in public... Happy street shows, such as the flower festivals, followed suite.
   
Also, related celebrations were staged inside the old Recova of Santa Cruz, he said.

But that was in the capital, of course.
   

Don Francisco emphasized that his late photographer brother had quite a few carnival photos.

We may assume that they were from the Sixties when they represented the Winter Festivals. 

The images were lost later on, unfortunately.

Otherwise, the Estanco owner has a good point, as there is also a known street Carnaval photo of 1920 of Cruz Santa which was captured before Franco's regime.

Modern photo gallery Puerto de la Cruz Carnival.

The Reina infantil child queen of 2019 Puerto de la Cruz was Shamara Hernández Gonzaléz.

Depicted above are the 2017 international as well as the child carnival queen called Reina infantil in Spanish.

Tenerife history of Puerto's carnival.

Carnival parties were already the rage in the days of Puerto's wealthy Irish merchants. Besides, the Italian bankers introduced the Carnival masks to Tenerife which were so famous in Venice.

When a family follows the carnival parade

Nowadays, there are smaller families that join in to the parade fun. All are welcome, you know...

The German Puerto de la Cruz carnival alliance.

Returning immigrants from South America added the figurative killing of the Culebra which means snake in Cuba. This began in the Seventies when tourists started to arrive by air from Düsseldorf on Los Rhodeos airport. The Puerto German carnival alliance  followed suite, soon after.
     
Those were also the days after Franco. Then, sponsors, such as local beer brewers, Loro Park and other business owners could afford to contribute financially.
    
By the way, fraternities and march bands were already Puerto carnival features in earlier decades. The crazy vehicle and car rally event another spectacle that is unique to its town followed, eventually. Indeed, there are many reasons to visit the number Two carnival of Tenerife.

Mascarita Ponte Tacon

This idea of a mascarita with high heels was most probably another way of celebrating the Gay carnival of Las Palmas in the oldest Tenerife resort El Puerto.

This show draws between 20 and 30000 visitors every year.

Second poster carnival 2018 of El Puerto Cruz

Later,  another  Puerto de la Cruz carnival event was added. It's called Mascarita te conozco. In 2019, it took place on Plaza Europa.   It received publicity by a poster as big as that of the main theme of 2018.  It's all about a reality show competition by drag queens or any other persons. The participants have to impersonate a character that's bound to be known by the public.

A repeat of the last summer carnival of Puerto Cruz

The celebration of the September Carnival  in the island's oldest resort is meant to be a warm up for the next Winter carnival of Puerto Cruz. Also, it serves the public to vote for the new poster and have late summer fun.

Tenerife summer carnival Puerto de la Cruz

• When? Always round about the third weekend in September from a Friday to a Sunday.
• The start?  On a Friday at Loro Park, while events and shows with live music encourage street dancing on Plaza de Europa during the Summer Carnival of Puerto de la Cruz.
  
• Parades and shows ? Comparsas and musical groups perform with live Samba and drum beats between Costa Martianez as far as Paseo San Telmo.
• Murgas? A Murga winner and gay celebrity characters from Gran Canaria are never amiss in Puerto's September carnival. 
• Other special visitors? LGTBIQ people are always attracted by the high heels of the Margarita Ponte Tacon gay parade which may take on a Saturday in summer, though.
• Some beach hotels near Lago Martianez will display popular carnival costumes of the town's winter event.
  
• Sunday events?   Children fun activities on Plaza Europa     

Video clips by the Tenerife holiday home insider

They are from 2019 and clearly show the Rio de Janeiro flair where the bouncy and rhythmic Samba is most prominent.

Find out why the Summer Carnival Puerto Cruz adds a whole new dimension, as happens in 2022

Why Carnival in Tenerife with its Coso is best enjoyed at Costa Martianez outside the famous pools

Another popular Puerto de la Cruz parade with disguise characters

The Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos the most important Christmas event parade in Puerto de la Cruz

About the Venice carnival more here

From Puerto de la Cruz carnival back to Tenerife attractions carnival There find several links to more great fun of Puerto Cruz disguise events

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