Lanzarote Festivals

The biggest party with roots in the island is held in the town of Tinajo every September 15 in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows and the Volcanoes (patron saint of Lanzarote). This pilgrimage involves people from all over the island, mostly dressed in costumes typical to Lanzarote. Pilgrims from other islands of the archipelago also come to the village of Mancha Blanca, Tinajo, where the shrine is located. For a few days the village becomes the center of traditional Canarian culture.

The traditional Island Crafts Fair and Folk Festival Nanino Diaz Cutillas, draws artisans and groups from the seven islands. Another tradition is the Festival of the Virgen de Los Dolores.

The other big party carnivals on the island are usually held in February, although the date depends on Easter, and therefore the lunar cycles. The Carnival of Arrecife, Arrecife being the capital, is the location for the principal feast of the mask in Lanzarote. In addition to the massive outdoor festivals, the carnival hosts competitions of Carnival Queen, Drag Queen, and street musicians.

Other notable festivals in the calendar of the island include the festival in honor of San Gines Bishop, the patron saint of Arrecife, and the festival of San Juan, during which the islanders hold a spontaneous night with bonfires.

Several coastal towns of the island also host festivities with colorful sea processions in honor of the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of sailors. There are also pilgrimages to the remedies in Yaiza, and to the shrine of Las Nieves, on the heights of Famara.

Infrastructure and cultural life
Aside from the festivities, the cultural agenda of Lanzarote is completed with a series of events more or less established among which is the music festival called “Coast Music”, held in Costa Teguise. There is also the festival of performing arts know as “Malpais” in Arrecife, and the sample film of Lanzarote from the Summer University on the island.

There are other cultural places of interest on the island. The Cesar Manrique Foundation, with offices at Taro de Tahiche, is a private institution responsible for disseminating the work and thought of the artist from Lanzarote. There is also The International Museum of Contemporary Art Castillo San Gabriel, located in Arrecife, which showcases works of artists like Francis Bacon, Antoni Tapies and Eduardo Chillida.