Carnaval is a festival celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm in many parts of the world. In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the celebrations are no less. The city comes to life with a series of colorful and lively events, filled with music, dance, and costumes. This year, the 2023 Carnaval in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria will be held from February 11th to March 5th, offering a packed calendar of events for locals and visitors alike to enjoy.
In this article we list the parades, which are, for most people, the most fun events! Check the activities for the children’s carnaval, the shows and the contests!
Carnaval Tuesday
Tuesday February 21 – 12PM
On Tuesday, February 21st, 2023, the celebration begins with the Batucarnaval. The event starts with the rhythm of the Batucadas and Comparsas and promises to be a vibrant morning of celebration. With the percussion beat leading the way, revelers can expect a parade filled with rhythm, happiness, and color.
Grand Parade of Carnaval Groups
Saturday February 25 – 6PM – Castillo de la luz > mesa y lopez
The Grand Parade of Carnaval Groups is a new event in the 2023 Carnaval calendar, taking place for the first time this year. It offers a meeting point for Carnaval groups and their audiences and provides a glimpse into the magic of the Carnaval, showcasing the talent and creativity of these groups. The parade will start at Castillo de La Luz and make its way to Mesa Y Lopez.
Children’s Parade
Sunday February 26 – 5PM – castillo de la luz > santa catalina park
The Children’s Parade is an essential part of the 2023 Carnaval celebrations in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The program includes events such as the selection of their regent, a parade, fancy dress competitions, and performances by junior Comparsas and Murgas. The Children’s Parade offers a chance for the little ones to take to the streets in their costumes and feel a part of the Carnaval. The parade will start at Castillo de la Luz and end at Santa Catalina Park.
Grand Parade
Saturday March 4 – 5PM – Castillo de la luz > parque san telmo
The Grand Parade is the highlight of the 2023 Carnaval in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and takes place during the last weekend of the festivities. The parade crosses the city, covering over seven kilometers and attracting over 200,000 masked revelers and 100 decorated cars and floats. Accompanied by the Queen, the Drag Queen, and the Grand Dame, the Grand Parade offers a link between Carnaval and tradition, with spontaneous and lively music, dance, and costumes. The parade will start at Castillo de la Luz and end at Parque San Telmo.
Burial of the Sardine
Sunday March 5 – 7PM – SANTA CATALINA PARK > PLAYA DE LAS CANTERAS
The 2023 Carnaval in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria will come to a close with the Burial of the Sardine. The event features a series of acts centered around the mourning of the fish’s death, with the widows and mourning women dressed in black. The parade will start at Santa Catalina Park and make its way to Las Canteras Beach, where the Sardine will be burned on a pyre. The closing of the Carnaval marks the end of the festivities and the beginning of the wait for the next edition.
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