The Pinolere Craft Fair, which will be held from September 2 to 4 at the ethnographic site of the same name in La Orotavawill dedicate a tribute to the traditions of the neighboring municipality of Los Realejos. In this way, the day of Saturday, September 3 will be dedicated entirely to the realejero municipality, with a tribute to his work in preserving traditions and to the Hermanos Toste pyrotechnics. There will also be a performance by the Atabara folk music group.
Francisco Linares, mayor of Villa de La Orotava, and the president and manager of the Pinolere Cultural Association, Leoncio Luis and Jesús García, presented yesterday the program of the 37th edition of the Pinolere Craft Fair, one of the most important of those celebrated in the Canary Islands. The day dedicated to Los Realejos will also have other activities: the Realejos Town Hall will present its local gastronomic label with tastings of pastries, wines, cheeses, gofio, mojos or almonds, among other proposals.
Likewise, the fairground will have a special decoration dedicated to Los Realejos and, on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the first sowing of old potatoes from the Canary Islands in Icod el Alto, a monographic exhibition on this event will be shown.
The awards ceremony
The doors of Pinolere will open on Friday, September 2 with the delivery of the distinctions to the 8 master craftsmen of the Canary Islands, a living treasure for the Island, together with their successor student. Then the Cho Feriantes de Honor 2022 and the XIX Villa de La Orotava Craft and Heritage Award will be given. The Fair will also feature a performance by the Pataphysical group, which will present the theme song for this edition under the title Living Treasures.
Those who want to go to Pinolere will have a free bus service, specifically two buses that leave from the center of La Orotava, from Avenida Sor Soledad Cobián. Entrance to the venue will cost 2.5 euros and 1.5 for minors. Throughout the first weekend of September, in addition to the 151 artisan stalls, Pinolere will have multiple activities for all audiences. The program includes exhibitions, music, tributes, gastronomic activities and educational workshops. The artisans present, from all over the Canary Islands, will show and sell their works of art over the three days.
On Sunday, September 4, the last day of the Craft Fair, the folkloric twinning will take place between the Parranda El Chaboco de Pinolere and the Ben-Gara folkloric group from Garachico. The Pinolere Orchestra will also perform.
An “incomparable” framework
Francisco Linares highlighted “the singular character of this unique Fair in the Canary Islands with these characteristics and with an incomparable setting as a stage”. “In addition to recovering, preserving and promoting our traditions and trades, Pinolere also helps the group of artisans who have been greatly affected by the global pandemic. It is an exemplary work of incalculable value carried out for almost four decades, and an initiative that will continue over time, so it must continue to have the support of public administrations, “said the mayor of Orota.
