June is peak party season in Gran Canaria's towns and villages. Most Romerías, the Canarian equivalent of fiestas in Spain, start with a serious religious event such as a procession. Once that's out of the way the guitars, food and local rum come out and everybody has fun.

Romerías are one of the few times when it's socially acceptable to be drunk (not fall down and vomit on your neighbour drunk) in public in Gran Canaria. Foreigners are always welcome, especially if they join in with the dancing and singing rather than just pointing cameras at everyone.

Gran Canaria Romerias in June

On the first weekend in June (Saturday 6th in 2015) there are three local fiestas in Gran Canaria:

The Romería de San Antonio in Telde, the Romería de los Arbejales en Teror, and the Romería de San Antonio in Mogán.

On the second weekend in June (Saturday 13th in 2015) you get a choice of six different local events spread around the island.

The Romería de San Antonio del Palmeral at Casas Blancasin San Bartolomé Tirajana.

The Romería de San Antonio de Padua in Moya

The Romería de Tenteniguada close to Valsequillo

The Romería de San Juan in Telde 

The Romería de San Pedro Apostol in La Atalaya de Guía

The Romería de San Juan in Arucas

On Friday the 19th of June there's a Romería in Los Corralillos in Agüimes.

On Saturday June 20th you get a choice of the Romería de San Pedro Apostol in the Agaete Valley and the Romería de San Juan Bautista in Tasarte.

On Saturday June 27 head to Cercados de Araña for the Romería de San Juan Bautista, El Juncal in Tejeda for the Romería en Honor a San Martín de Porres and Santa Teresa (both in the centre of the island), or Bañaderos on the north coast for the Romería en Honor a San Pedro Apostol. 

Corpus Christi

This Catholic festival can be at the end of May or during June. This year (2015) it's on Sunday 7th June.

 In Gran Canaria people traditionally made street carpets out of salt, flowers and sand but most places have lost the tradition. The exception is Arucas town where the streets are still covered with salt carpets. Some people even make them out of fragrant pine needles and flowers. 

Visit Arucas on Sunday to watch the carpets being made, or come in the evening to watch the religious procession that tramples all over the carpets while the locals throw flowers.

Vegueta old town in Las Palmas, once famous for its carpets, is bringing back the tradition.  

Las Palmas Celebrates its founding

Las Palmas city celebrates its founding betwen the 5th and the 25th of June. Events include concerts, markets, regattas and guided night walks. 

The 2015 program (in Spanish) is here

San Juan

San Juan is a mixture of  beach party and bonfire night. It's biggest in Las Palmas because the city was founded on San Juan Day (June 24th). Thousands of people gather on the beach to eat and drink. At midnight everyone walks backards into the sea and there's a huge fireworks display. These days beach bonfires are forbidden on Las Canteras beach but lots of other places still have a big blaze and fireworks.

Gran Canaria Swimwear Fashion Week

Where better to lunch new swimwear and bikini fashions than in Gran Canaria? Between June 18 and 20 the island becomes the world centre of beach fshion thanks to the Gran Canaria Swimwear Fashion Week held in the Expomeloneras Conference Centre in Maspalomas. 

This year there are designers from Brasil, Colombia and Mexico long with local brands like Lenita y XTG. The event is  trade show so good luck geting in. There will be plenty of photos about.