The second day of the sixteenth edition of Plenilunio commenced on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. with an inaugural ceremony held in García Sanabria park. During the event, Santa Cruz’s mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, emphasised the family-friendly essence of this occasion that “many eagerly await in the capital, featuring over a hundred activities across 20 locations in the city.”
He expressed his hope that “today and tomorrow will be even more exceptional than last night, during which 220 drones lit up the city’s sky.”
In this regard, Bermúdez explained that “this initiative is designed for residents to relish a vibrant, accessible, and commercial Santa Cruz, enhanced by various incentives, particularly the Sunday Consumption Vouchers.”
He further stated that “the schedule is extensive with numerous venues hosting activities, from the Almeyda Barracks to the Nuestra Señora de África market; from the Plaza de España to the García Sanabria park, which is thematically inspired by Alice in Wonderland this year.”
Additionally, the CEO of the Development Society, Carmen Pérez, described “the array of options that attendees of Plenilunio will encounter throughout the day, culminating in a series of musical performances across different parts of the city during the evening.” She added, “Today, we welcome an extensive agenda of activities that will run until midnight tonight and continue tomorrow, Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.,”
Ramos noted, adding, “We will have the chance to participate in workshops, markets, music, and theatre, among many other possibilities.”
Pérez also underscored the significance of such events, highlighting that “it is crucial to celebrate initiatives like Plenilunio, which draws thousands of prospective customers and stimulates the economy through spending in our shops and restaurants.”
She recalled that “on Sunday, attendees will be able to utilise the Sunday Consumption Vouchers, which sold out within just 20 minutes yesterday.”
She concluded her remarks by referencing a quote from “Alice in Wonderland”, posing the question “How long is forever?”, with the white rabbit replying, “sometimes, just a second”, to encourage residents to “make the most of every moment during this Full Moon Santa Cruz weekend.”
The extensive schedule of activities on Saturday will continue until 12:00 a.m., while on Sunday it will run from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Among today’s scheduled musical acts, highlights include performances by Macaco, Sara Socas, Bejo, El Vega Life, Sistah Vibes and Lass Suga, who will feature in the programme at La Candelaria Square and the pedestrian esplanade on Marítima Avenue.
A Saturday Dominated by Music
Today’s Plenilunio events will span seventeen distinct locations. The traditional Le Good Market will take place in García Sanabria Park, offering spaces focused on gastronomy, musical performances, and children’s activities, remaining open until midnight. Meanwhile, in the Bulevar park, children can enjoy an inflatable play area from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., featuring English workshops conducted by Kids Academy and Us from 11:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
The Plaza del Príncipe will house a macro play centre for children from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., along with a traditional market showcasing local artisans (Artefe), coinciding with the Black & White Market situated in the Alameda del Duque Santa Elena, open from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
The Chicharrock youth sports festival will unfold on the pedestrian esplanade of Marítima Avenue, in partnership with the Education and Youth Department, merging various disciplines with the finest urban music.
The schedule includes numerous activities, such as the Fitness Race Santa Cruz, set to open this area from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with a second edition taking place later the same day from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Additionally, basketball enthusiasts can join in training sessions and exhibitions from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., culminating in a 3×3 tournament that will run from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The Chicharrock festival will also feature a CrossFit competition named “F2F 2k24” on Marítima Avenue from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., along with activities such as parkour and surf skating, available from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Moreover, the Fit Zone will conduct Zumba classes from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., gbox from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and Pilates sessions from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by Gtraining from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Mobility and stretching classes will occur from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., with a second session from 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
The youth festival will be complemented by a graffiti demonstration from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. by Erik Air and an ongoing exhibition of his work from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Furthermore, attendees will have the opportunity to explore the art of DJing through a workshop led by Pimienta Selectora, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
The Chicharrock festival’s Saturday finale will feature urban music performances in the Plaza de La Candelaria, led by Pimienta Selectora from 8:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.; Sara Socas from 9:20 p.m. to 10:10 p.m., and Lass Suga from 10:15 p.m. to 10:55 p.m., with Bejo concluding the evening with a performance from 11:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. On Sunday, this area will again host sports and recreational activities for youth from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., featuring workshops, exhibitions, and competitions.
Music will continue at the Nuestra Señora de África Market from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., showcasing performances by Dúo Adaggio & Álvaro Flores with Gabi Betancourt, La Magia Humorística de XeraX, Dúo Adaggio, Miss Music Band, and Morocho & Latin Brothers.
Cultural Offerings for Today, Saturday
Today, the Regional Military Museum of the Canary Islands will open its doors from 12:00 p.m., offering a series of activities including the changing of the guard at 12:15 p.m., a recreation of World War II Recon25 at 1:00 p.m., an airsoft match at 5:00 p.m., a historical demonstration of the 18th-century English attack at 6:00 p.m., and a concert by the Municipal Music Band. Additionally, there will be parallel activities featuring music and a variety of workshops, such as archery and modelling exhibitions.
Meanwhile, the General Captaincy headquarters will host a performance by the music unit of the Canary Islands Command at 12:00 p.m., along with public access to its prominent Throne Room.
The MUNA will be open for free entry from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. On this second day of Plenilunio, visits to the temporary exhibition on Correillo La Palma will occur at 11:30, 12:30, 17:00, and 18:00, along with guided tours of the Guanche funerary area at 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. Interested individuals must register in advance at www.museosdetenerife.org/blog/plenilunio-2023-en-el-muna-2/
At the TEA, in addition to its permanent exhibitions, visitors can partake in special activities such as the Art Library at 10:00 a.m.; new guided tours of the Óscar Domínguez exhibition at 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.; a visit to the Industrial Classroom at 12:00 p.m., and a workshop on the Contemporary Biennial.
provided by the Al’Akhawat collective, at 6:00 p.m. Additionally, at 7:00 p.m., the TEA Cinema will have a repeat screening of “The Farrer Method”.
For those inclined towards theatre, the San Rafael and San Roque cemetery will feature the theatrical presentation “Doubloons for Eternity”, performed by Burka Teatro, offering a dramatized journey through the city’s historical legacy at 5:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m.
As night falls, the play “N’importe quoi” will conclude the day’s cultural programme at the Guimerá Theatre. The Leandre Clown company will showcase this performance as part of the International Clownbaret 2024 Festival, commencing at 8:00 p.m.
Itinerant performances in the dining areas and parades
The dining areas along the main thoroughfares of the city will also host travelling acoustic performances aimed at enhancing the lunch and dinner services, through an initiative termed “Acoustiland”, which will take place on Saturday.
At 2:00 p.m., Pixie Dixieland will bring jazz played by wind instruments to Weyler Plaza, while Celso Sax will perform simultaneously in Ireneo González Plaza, and violinist Ana Obando will be in San Francisco Plaza. Concurrently, the lively tunes of 101 Brass Band will animate La Noria Street, and Guachipandixie will present their show on Anaga Avenue.
These travelling performances will continue from 3:00 p.m. with the music of Manu Sax in Weyler Square, while Pixie Dixieland shifts to La Noria Street. Violinist Ana Obando will entertain in Plaza Ireneo González with her performances, and Guachipandixie will perform in Plaza de San Francisco, while Anaga Avenue will resonate with the sounds of the 101 Brass Band.
During the dinner hour, beginning at 8:30 p.m., travelling music will return to the city centre dining areas with Dorina Violín in Plaza Weyler and Manu Sax in Plaza Ireneo González. Furthermore, Celso Sax will perform in Plaza de San Francisco, and Diamond Show will blend violin with acrobatics on Anaga Avenue, whilst Flamenco Fusión will present a show inspired by Spanish roots on La Noria Street.
Similarly, at 9:30 p.m., Flamenco Fusión will again perform in Plaza Weyler and Celso Sax in Plaza Ireneo González, while Diamond Show will take their act to Plaza de San Francisco, and Manu Sax will be in La Noria and Dorina Streets. The violin will provide the musical backdrop on Anaga Avenue.
Furthermore, Castillo and Valentín Sanz streets, along with La Candelaria square, will witness an inaugural parade on Saturday, titled Space Fantasy, commencing at 1:00 p.m. In the afternoon, the route will be repeated featuring a theme focused on the ocean, named Ocean Fantasy, starting at 6:00 p.m. On Sunday, October 6, these same areas will host the Pandora Fantasy parade at 12:30 p.m. and Fantasía Circense at 5:30 p.m.
The Plenilunio programme resumes on Sunday, featuring an extensive array of activities across seventeen different locations from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
MUNA, TEA Tenerife, Municipal Museum of Fine Arts, Fuerte de Almeyda Regional Military Museum, Capitanía Palace, Casa Carnaval, traditional markets Alameda del Duque Santa Elena and Plaza del Príncipe, sports activities along the maritime avenue as part of the Chicharrock festival, parades, musical performances in dining areas, and the traditional night opening of the Nuestra Señora de África Market will all be included.
Plenilunio Santa Cruz is organised by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Development Society and is backed by Promotur Turismo de Canarias (Government of the Canary Islands), funded through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, as part of the Next Generation EU Funds. Moreover, it has the support of Hospiten, Worten, Fuente Alta, Mutua Tinerfeña and Cajasiete.
Plenilunio Santa Cruz encourages the use of public transport or bicycles, proper disposal of waste in authorised containers, the use of reusable cups, and promoting cardboard containers.
For those interested in staying in Santa Cruz during Plenilunio, comprehensive information regarding city hotels and special offers can be found in the ‘Accommodations’ section of the website www.pleniluniosantacruz.com, where details related to mobility and the complete activity programme are also available.
In addition, the Mobility and Road Safety departments have announced that, depending on the attendance at the various activities spanning more than 20 locations in the city, there may be alterations and road closures, particularly in the vicinity of Plaza de España and its surrounding areas. Consequently, it is likely that Bravo Murillo streets and Marítima Avenue (from Francisco La Roche to Cabildo) could be affected, with possible closures to the surface lane at the tunnel entrance, southbound. Therefore, drivers are advised to stay alert to the agents and signs.
