The activities, courses, and workshops typically offered at the citizen centres of La Laguna will venture outdoors this 23rd of November as part of the White Night celebration, showcasing the healthy leisure and free time pursuits enjoyed by locals throughout the year.
In total, over 200 recreational activities will be featured along Heraclio Sánchez street, which will be transformed into a vibrant showcase to present the educational, cultural, and social programmes developed within the network of 46 citizen centres located across the various neighbourhoods and towns of the municipality,” stated Fran Hernández, the Mayor of Citizen Participation for the San Cristóbal de La Laguna City Council.
From 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., this street in the town of La Laguna will host parades, musical performances, theatrical productions, and a broad array of recreational options. Guests will have the chance to participate in open fitness classes, self-makeup sessions, choreographic gymnastics, taekwondo, embroidery, woodwork, guitar, memory training, yoga and relaxation, alongside numerous dance forms including children’s and youth urban styles, capoeira, sevillanas, folklore, Latin, ballroom, and oriental dances, among other variations.
Additionally, there will be exhibitions of nativity scenes, embroidery and lacework, guitar, Spanish sign language, creative sewing, crafts, painting, photography, and traditional Canarian attire, as well as sports activities, performing arts, and music displays.
Fran Hernández encourages everyone to explore these activities, emphasising that “this is a chance to highlight all that the centres provide, an exemplar of the vibrant, engaged, and participatory spirit of the people of La Laguna.”
Lagoon Pride
The collaboration between the City Council, local merchants, and citizens, in general, is what renders this event a unique experience, where every neighbour and visitor can find their place and feel part of the celebration. “With initiatives that foster citizen participation, support local commerce, and cultural and artistic offerings, La Laguna will transform into a gathering space where a sense of belonging will shine in every corner,” Hernández underscored.
This 2024 edition of White Night holds particular significance, “through the White Night Forum, we have crafted the programme in conjunction with various social and economic sectors, ensuring it embodies the spirit of our city and resonates with citizens’ interests and expectations, inspiring and enhancing local pride,” remarked Estefanía Díaz, the Mayor of Commerce. Moreover, this year, the White Night is part of the 25th anniversary celebration of La Laguna’s designation as a World Heritage City, “a festivity that will be evident in the commercial revitalisation agenda, which will also highlight our historical, cultural, and architectural treasures.”
“Citizen participation in this context is not merely about attendance; it involves engaging with our cultural heritage and recognising the role each individual plays in preserving and caring for this unique inheritance,” concluded Díaz, sharing her long-term vision for the White Night, “a day we wish to continue evolving, aspiring to establish it as a highly anticipated event within the municipal calendar, where our neighbours consistently discover new ways to participate, celebrate, and share with the thousands of local and international visitors the city welcomes on this day.”
