Celebrating Noche de San Juan 2024 in Gran Canaria (June 23)

If you find yourself in Gran Canaria this June, get ready to experience one of the island’s most enchanting and vibrant celebrations: Noche de San Juan, or Saint John’s Night. Held annually on the night of June 23rd, this festive occasion marks the summer solstice with a blend of ancient traditions and modern revelry. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

What’s Noche de San Juan All About?

Noche de San Juan is a celebration steeped in history, combining pagan customs celebrating the summer solstice with Christian traditions honoring Saint John the Baptist. The festival symbolizes purification and renewal, and fire plays a central role, believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the San Juan celebrations start with concerts by La Guardia and Los Salvapantallas at 10:00 PM in Plaza de la Música. These concerts mark the beginning of the city’s festivities, which are famous for being very popular since they are the founding celebrations of the city. At midnight, there will be a traditional fireworks show launched from Los Muellitos. These events celebrate local traditions and bring together residents and visitors for a night of music, culture, and impressive fireworks, signaling the start of summer with joy and excitement in the city.

Traffic Measures

Special traffic measures are in place. From 7:00 PM, only public transport will be allowed to enter Rincón area. The city council has set up a special plan for cleaning, traffic management, and safety as between 80,000 and 100,000 people are expected at Las Canteras beach. To ease access and prevent traffic jams, two entrances from the GC-2 highway to Alfredo Kraus Auditorium area will close from 7:00 PM: the one near Aviador Garnier roundabout by Las Arenas, and the one entering José Sánchez Peñate Avenue.

Beach Party on Playa de Las Canteras
Join the thousands who head to the beach, with food, drinks, and a festive spirit. The beach transforms into a giant open-air party, where you can enjoy picnics, music, and dancing right by the ocean.

Midnight Swim As the clock strikes midnight, take a refreshing dip in the ocean. This tradition is believed to cleanse and rejuvenate both body and soul—plus, it’s a fantastic way to cool off after a night of celebration.

Live Music and Dancing The city comes alive with concerts, live music, and DJ sessions. From traditional Canarian tunes to contemporary beats, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and dance to.

Sardina del Norte

The beach will come alive with the shortest night of the year, featuring music and spectacular aquatic and aerial fireworks. Organized by the Department of Culture and Festivities led by Julio Mateo Castillo, the San Juan Marinero night offers a lineup of activities for everyone to enjoy. Festivities kick off with a parade at 10:00 PM, followed by a performance by Línea DJ at 11:00 PM. The highlight of the evening arrives at midnight with traditional aquatic and aerial fireworks, making it a memorable celebration along the coast.

Puerto de Mogán

Puerto de Mogán will celebrate the traditional Noche de San Juan at the beach, organized by the Ayuntamiento de Mogán. Starting at 9:00 PM, the festivities include a popular pineapple barbecue at ‘La Puntilla,’ a dance performance by the Área de Danza de Mogán, music by DJ Aitor Cruz, the lighting of the San Juan bonfire, and a fireworks display. The evening will continue with live music from Grupo Arena and more from DJ Aitor Cruz.

Puerto de Mogán is a key destination for celebrating the eve of San Juan with rituals for prosperity and good luck. The Ayuntamiento has also prohibited unauthorized bonfires during the days around the festivities to prevent fire risks, with the only allowed bonfire being the one organized near Mogán beach with all necessary safety measures.

Melenara

On June 23rd, Melenara beach will revive Los Mechones de San Juan after years. Organized by MECLASA, the event starts at 9 PM in Salinetas with a magical parade. This year includes fireworks.

“Melenara tells its story on San Juan’s special night. This event, with a midnight swim and traditions revived after seventeen years, makes June 23rd mystical,” MECLASA explains. Residents of Melenara, Clavellinas, and Salinetas celebrate the shortest night by the sea, adding superstitions to San Juan’s magic with old fishing torches.

MECLASA’s dedication is rewarded with big crowds. The parade, with music, drumming, torchbearers, and a two-meter-tall figure, moves from Salinetas to Melenara pier. Attendees in witch and zombie costumes throw wishes into the fire. “This is our seventeenth year, earning trust from institutions and joining city council celebrations,” MECLASA notes. Fireworks, seen from beach, promenade, or Clavellinas, draw thousands like Melenara’s famous festivals. “Planning next year’s start to summer,” MECLASA adds.

After the fireworks, Leyenda Joven hosts beach dance until 2 AM.

Playa del Inglés

The celebration in Playa del Inglés will start at 8:30 PM with a parade and batucada beginning at Anexo II and proceeding to the main stage on the beach. At 9:00 PM, the festivities will continue with performances by ¡Qué Chimba! and the Star Music Orchestra. Following this, there will be a magical performance where elves, wizards, and other mystical characters will interact with the audience, bringing the necessary magic and spells for the year ahead. At midnight, a spectacular fireworks display will illuminate the coast, and DJ Jonay BJ will keep the music going on the main stage.

Juan Grande

On June 23rd, Juan Grande will host a festive day filled with various activities. The day will feature the first exhibition of classic and racing vehicles, an artisan market, and a San Juan parade with the ‘Castillerinhos’ batucada. The celebrations will culminate in the evening at 7:00 PM in Plaza de la Era with the traditional pineapple barbecue and a performance by Salitre, creating a communal and festive atmosphere to honor the shortest night of the year.

Fataga

Fataga will kick off its Apricot Festival on June 23rd with a speech by Rafael González ‘Feluco’ at 8:00 PM. This marks the beginning of a week-long celebration that focuses on community and tradition, offering a variety of fun and cultural activities for all ages. The opening night sets the stage for the upcoming events, promising a week of enjoyment and festivity.

Telde

On the eve of San Juan, Telde will celebrate with a special event featuring Aixay “El Puma” Hernández, recently crowned world champion of Wako K-1 at the José Vélez Auditorium. He will light the city’s grand bonfire at 10:00 PM on Sunday, June 23rd, near the Siete Ojos Bridge. This tradition marks the beginning of festivities in Telde, bringing together locals and visitors to commemorate the shortest night of the year with music, dance, and the warmth of the bonfire under the starlit sky.

Practical Tips

Stay Safe: With large crowds and lots of activity, it’s important to stay aware of your surroundings. Stick with friends, keep an eye on your belongings, and follow any safety guidelines provided by local authorities. When you go for a swim, make sure that someone you know is guarding your personal items.

Respect the Environment: Help keep the beaches beautiful by following the city’s guidelines for waste disposal. Use the bins provided and be mindful of the environment.

Experience the Magic

So, mark your calendars for June 23rd, gather your friends, and get ready to dive into one of Gran Canaria’s most beloved celebrations. See you on the beach!

Please note that event times and details may be subject to change. It’s recommended to check with local sources closer to the dates or visit official tourism websites for the most up-to-date information.