The Villa and Port of Garachico awaits the big weekend of the Fiestas de San Roque that will begin this Friday and will last until Tuesday, August 16, the patron saint’s day.
The celebration kicks off with the Festival of Traditions, which will return to Plaza de San Roque this Friday, August 12. The commission has wanted to celebrate almost the entire festivity of the patron around his hermitage and that is why the act of exaltation of Canarian traditions, in which the Romera Mayor of this 2022 is chosen, returns to where it was born: the square of San Roque. This meeting will start at around 10:00 p.m. and will feature a performance by AC Tajaraste. The maintainer chosen this year has been Manolo Pérez Rodríguez, director and presenter of the TVE program ‘Taifa y candil’. Later, the offering will be made to San Roque and the Romera Mayor of this edition will be proclaimed.
It will have limited capacity and tickets to attend the Festival of Traditions can be purchased from August 1 at Multitienda Cas Cayo for the price of 3 euros.
On Saturday, August 13, Garachico takes to the streets like it hasn’t done since 2019: the small pilgrimage will fill the streets of the town with colors, music, ajijides, Canarian gastronomy and the best atmosphere. Starting at 7:00 p.m., the party will start from the vicinity of the old dock in Garachica with the participation of 34 small carts. The route of the small pilgrimage will make clear that halo of tradition and joy that has never abandoned the Villa and Puerto despite two years of pandemic.
At the end of the small pilgrimage, in the Plaza de San Roque, the traditional dance of the magicians will be held. For several years, the organizing committee has united both acts. Thus, the dance of magicians will begin at 10:00 p.m. with the participation of Pepe Benavente, the Guaracha orchestra and the Saoco group. As is tradition, at 5:00 am, the straws will be delivered as an offering to San Roque.
The events will continue throughout the weekend. On Sunday, August 14, it will be the turn of the little ones with the children’s wizard dance. It will be at 6:00 p.m. in the Plaza de San Roque. That same day, at 9:00 p.m., the second edition of the Erre que erre festival will be enjoyed. Rap, rock, reggae, rumba and reggaeton will come together to delight the youngest audience.
The next appointment will be on Monday, August 15, with the eve of San Roque. At 8:00 p.m., the Eucharist will be celebrated in the Plaza de Santo Domingo. Next, the procession of the day before will take place, which will end with the pyrotechnic display of the Hermanos Toste pyrotechnics. Next, there will be dancing with the Nueva Línea group.
the big day
Two years have passed without a pilgrimage to San Roque. For this reason, the enthusiasm and desire of the people of Garachiquen and devotees of San Roque multiply exponentially. From very early, at 8:00 am, the people of Garachico will wake up with ‘Viva San Roquito’ by the Garachico Musical Group. At 9:30 a.m., the pilgrims’ mass will be celebrated in the Plaza de San Roque. Hundreds of pilgrims, devotees and magicians will approach the hermitage to later accompany San Roque to the Matriz de Santa Ana parish. Another Eucharist will be celebrated there starting at 12:00.
Later, San Roque will go to the outskirts of the Ramón Arocha square to begin the traditional pilgrimage of San Roque. At 2:00 p.m., pilgrims, carts, yuntas, parrandas, magicians and magicians will go out on a pilgrimage remembering the pilgrim spirit of San Roque. The tour will pass through the main and emblematic streets of Garachico, leaving a trace of tradition and color on one of the most special days of the year for all Garachiquenses.
The pilgrimage will be broadcast live on Radio Televisión Canaria, bringing the celebration of the patron saint of Garachiquense closer to millions of homes.
At its end in the Plaza de San Roque, the pilgrims’ dance will be enjoyed with the Dorada Band and Latin Sound orchestras.
