Monday, 09 February 2015 11:13

What's On In Gran Canaria In January

Gran Canaria is covered in almond blossom in January Gran Canaria is covered in almond blossom in January

January may be the height of winter across Europe but here in Gran Canaria there's plenty of outdoor events in the sunshine. If you're on the island this month, here's the top things to see and do.

 

Three Kings Parades

In Spain, it's the three wise men or three kings that bring the kids their presents rather than Santa. Most towns celebrate with a procession, featuring the three kings on camels and tonnes of sweets, during the day of January 5th: fun for the kids, especially the local ones who know to bring umbrellas to catch as many sweets as possible.

The actual day of the three kings, known as Reyes, is on January 6.

Almond blossom festivals

Gran Canaria's almond trees all flower at the same time in January. For a few weeks the highlands are veiled in pink and white blossom. It forms drifts, covers windscreens and makes the whole place pretty.  

Almonds are still an important part of the rural economy in Gran Canaria as they are used to make bienmesabe paste (so delicious it is literally called "tastes good to me") and lots of other sweets. That's why the main hill towns celebrate the blossom every year.

Head to San Bartolome village for the annual almond tree festival (23rd-25th January in 2015) or to Tejeda right at the end of the month for the island's biggest celebration of the blossom.

If you'd rather stay closer to sea level drive up the Guayadeque Valley for almond blossom without the steep drop offs. 

Gran Canaria Marathon

The annual Gran Canaria marathon takes place at the end of January in Las Palmas. It's fast becoming an international event with sponsors such as Paula Radcliffe and Haile Gebrselassie. Whether you want to win it or watch it, come to Las Palmas for the day and join in. 

Romerias

The only traditional fiesta or romeria in Gran Canaria in January is during the last week of the month. It's big day is the last Sunday of the month when the locals dress up in traditional dress and parade through the streets with decorated floats and farm animals. Ingenio romeria isn't a famous one but they are all fun to visit.

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.

Maspalomas football tournament in January

The annual friendly football tournament at Maspalomas is 30 years old and still attracts big teams like Celtic, PSV Eindhoven and Sparta Prague. It's held every year at the Maspalomas Municipal Stadium. 

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Tip of the day

  • The Parafarmacia In Gran Canaria Is Not A Chemist!
    The Parafarmacia In Gran Canaria Is Not A Chemist!

    If there is one thing we hate it is visitors being tricked in Gran Canaria. In the past we've warned about overcharging at Gran Canaria chemists, and rip off electronics shops in resorts. 

    In this Tip Of The Day we return to the island's chemists or rather, to the island's fake chemists.

    A chemist in Gran Canaria is called a Farmacia and always has a green cross sign. Farmacias are the only place tobuy medicine in Spain, even basics like paracetamol.

    However, there is another kind of shop in Gran Canaria that looks and sounds like a chemist but doesn't sell medicine. This is the Parafarmacia and it also uses a green cross sign.

    A parafarmacia is a herbal medicine shop that is not allowed to sell any normal medicine such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or antibiotics. 

    Instead, parafarmacias sell herbal alternatives to medicine but don't have to prove that they work and they can charge whatever they want.

    We recently heard from a visitor to Gran Canaria who went into a parafarmacia and was charged 40 euros for a herbal alternative to Ibuprofen. It was only when they read the label that they realised what had happened. 

    To locate a genuine farmacia, see this website and search within your municipio (Puerto Rico is in Mogán, Playa del Inglés is in San Bartolomé de Tirajana). At weekends and on fiesta days many farmacias close but there is always one open, known as the farmacia de guardia, in each municipio.

    Search for the nearest one to you with this tool

    Lex Says: To keep costs down, see this article for the way to ask for generic medicine rather than expensive branded alternatives. 

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