Adriana Peña, wearing the costume Lisboa, designed by Santi Castro, is the Queen of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2023. The candidate was crowned during a gala held last night at the International Trade Fair and Congress Centre of the capital.
The court of honour of the Tenerife Carnival is completed by the first lady, Hirisley Jiménez, with Metamorphosis (designed by Daniel Pages); Laura Fernández, with Así soy – this is me - (Sedomir Rodríguez); Carmen Hibner, Un mar de consciencia – sea of consciousness - (Alfonso Baute) and Marta Santana, with Historia de una reina – the story of a queen - (Alexis Santana).
The Gala, at which the queen and ladies of honour were chosen, was dedicated to New York, the theme of this year's Santa Cruz Carnival. After an overture with references to the elements that have made the American metropolis world famous, like its underground culture and Broadway musicals; Tenerife carnival groups, such as comparsas, murgas and musical groups took over the stage. The performance of the singer Carlos Rivera, as well as the K-Narias, among other artists, animated and made the audience of 4,700 dance.
Carnival in the streets
From 17 February, Santa Cruz de Tenerife becomes "the city that never sleeps", with dancing in the streets until the early hours of the morning, in the middle of winter, at an average temperature of 20 degrees, where the only requirement is to want to have a good time.
From 20:00h tomorrow, the great Carnival Parade takes place, presided over by the Queen. Floats, decorated cars, murgas, comparsas and fantastic characters go through the main streets of the city. Late at night, the area around these same streets, and the squares of España, Candelaria, Príncipe and Weyler square will become authentic dance stages.
On Saturday afternoon, 18 February, one of the most spectacular shows takes place: the Ritmo y Armonía dance troupe competition. The dance groups will show their joyful choreographies to the sound of percussion. It will take place on Francisco La Roche avenue and is completely free of charge. Afterwards, the party will continue in the street.
On Sunday, 19 February, from 13:00h, the 'Carnival by day' is celebrated. A day dedicated to the enjoyment of children and adults, so it is common to see entire families dressed up in costumes.
Monday, 20 February is the big night: Shrove Monday. The imagination and the desire to have a good time takes over the streets once again and the party goes on until well into the early hours of the morning. The following day, on Tuesday, the 21st, the Coso, another great parade takes place in the city's Francisco La Roche Avenue. It starts at 16:00h and it is another of the most spectacular events. The Queen and her ladies-in-waiting, comparsas, murgas, Carnival characters, floats...
The Burial of the Sardine and the Piñata Weekend
Wednesday, 22nd February. On this night, the Burial of the Sardine is celebrated. The street fills with widows who mourn the "death" of Don Carnal, staged in the form of a sardine - in honour of the city's fishing origins - which is decked out for the festival on a float that ends up burning at the end of the parade.
The definitive "farewell" to Carnival takes place during the following weekend.
On Friday, 24 February, the dances continue into the night, to give way on Saturday, 25 February, to the 'Carnival by day', which lasts well into the night. From mid-day, families and carnival-goers take to the streets once again.
On 26 February, Piñata Sunday, the festival concludes with a parade of vintage cars, performances by the murga Ni fú-Ni fá, a performance of La Zarzuela and a grand finale from 17:00.
