Carnivals

Las Palmas carnival starts on January 29th, 2016 and runs for three weeks. View our complete guide to events here. Just as it winds down the sequins come out of the closet down south and the Maspalomas carnival kicks off.

Other towns in Gran Canaria hold their own carnivals throughout February. Click here for details and programs for the main Gran Canaria carnivals such as Telde, Teror, Agüimes and Galdar. Each town has its own carnival traditions. In Agüimes, for example, most people dress up as lizards while in Teror you get a lot of traditional music and tortitas de carnival: Sweet pastries made from sweet potato.

We recommend that you see at least one street parade and one burial of the sardine event.

Almond Festival

The last almond trees flower right at the start of February in north Gran Canaria. Tejeda village celebrates its almond festival at the end of January and Valleseco holds its version on the first weekend of February. Try the cider while you're there.

International Music Festival

During January and February the Canary Islands host the FIMC International Music Festival: The first classical music festival on the European circuit. Concerts are mostly in the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus in Las Palmas but smaller towns also host events. Check the program here.