The La Orotava Carnival is being prepared for the forthcoming festivities. Mayor Francisco Linares, the delegate councilor of Festivals, Alexis Pacheco, and the representative of the Joint Carnival Commission and president of the Villeros troupe celebrating its 30th anniversary, Agustín Felipe Estévez, presented the program of events on Monday, January 29. Also present were Mario Hernández, one of the authors of the poster, and David Hernández, the director of the Queen’s Gala, where the draw for the order of participation of the candidates aspiring to this title took place.
Under the title ‘Costumes, illusion joy… of the carnival in the circus’, this edition’s program begins on Friday, February 9, with the parade of costumed children from the municipality’s schools, marching through the streets of the town from the Plaza del Quinto Centenario to Avenida Iberoamericana in the morning. In the evening, starting at 8:30 p.m., the Election Gala of the Queen and Bridesmaids will take place. The event, presented by Elvis Sanfiel, will feature performances by Miriam Reyes, El Morocho, and the carnival groups. Invitations to attend can be obtained from the Municipal Tourism Office. Following the draw, the five young women will appear in the following order: Alejandra Escobar Hernández, representative of the La Villa Shopping Center, who will showcase Frank Romero’s design ‘Midas’ Wish’; Yanira González Morales, with the allegory ‘The most beautiful in the world’ by designer Alfonso Baute and representative of Multicentro Comercial El Trompo; Ilenia Alonso Casañas will parade with Sergio and Octavio Hernández’s design ‘Phoneix Canariensis’, representing Effico; Juliennys María Hernández Jiménez, from Prezero, will wear ‘The Return of Shiva’ designed by Héctor de la Rosa, and Gisela Abrante González with the fantasy ‘Borcalis’ by Fran Yanes, representing Ferretería La Luz.
On Saturday, February 10, the Drag Queen and Humor Gala will feature guest drag queens from Gran Canaria including Vulcano, Electra, Armek, and Shiky, as well as Orgásmica and Nilo from Tenerife. The evening will also include a performance by Sandra del Castillo, and Yanely Hernández as the host. On Sunday, February 11, the Street Carnival will be celebrated in the streets and squares of the urban center, featuring various activities. A children’s area with workshops, games, characters, and animations will be set up in the Plaza de la Constitución and the Carrera Street Bridge, while different stages will host performances of Latin dances, Zumba, theater, choreographic groups, and a costume contest, among other things. The different carnival groups will parade from the Town Hall Square to the stage on Calvario Street, where they will perform throughout the afternoon. The following day, Monday the 12th, the comparsas parade will be held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Los Villeros comparsas, with the participation of invited troupes Los Cariocas, Los Tabajaras, and Ritmo del Viento.
Tuesday the 13th, a holiday in La Orotava, will be the big day of the village carnival, with the traditional parade of vintage cars in its 5th edition, commencing at 10:00 a.m. in the Plaza de la Constitución and the Bridge. In the afternoon, at 5:00 p.m., the grand apotheosis arena will start from the Cruz del Teide and proceed through San Francisco, Escultor Estévez, and Calvario, culminating in the Plaza de La Paz. Carnival groups from La Orotava and the northern region, as well as numerous spontaneous participants, will join, and the festival in the Plaza del Kiosco by the Maquinaria orchestra and The Boys Machine will follow around 7:30 p.m. On Wednesday the 14th, Crispín’s mourning and the funeral procession will take place, with performances by the 101 Brass Band in the town hall square from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The funeral procession will then proceed through the town to the Plaza del Quinto Centenario, culminating in the burial and burning of Crispín, inspired this year by the world of the circus, and accompanied by the village carnival groups and numerous spontaneous participants. The evening will be further enriched by a performance by Escuela de Calor.
The Francisco Abrante auditorium in La Perdoma will host the Carnival Festival on Thursday, February 15, starting at 6:00 p.m. On Friday the 16th, the Plaza de San Juan Bautista will host the children’s festival and other entertainment from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., including activities such as mask workshops, face painting, and a glitter party, along with performances by Güicho. The traditional Piñata Dance will occur in the same square on Saturday, the 17th, beginning at 10:30 p.m. Lastly, the program of events will conclude on Sunday the 18th with the carnival rondallas festival at the Liceo de Taoro. Throughout the carnival week, visitors can also enjoy the exhibition of old photographs of the villero carnival, particularly the history of the murgas, organized by the La Escalera cultural collective and the town hall.
Unique Poster
The poster, created by Patricia Portocarrero and Mario Hernández, draws inspiration from vintage magic, the nostalgia of past eras, the beauty of the unexplainable, and the power of art. Its title is a tribute to David “Porto”: “La Villa es Carnaval”.
According to the artists, the poster encompasses and represents all the carnival groups. It portrays the groups participating in this great festival on a colorful and joyous path towards the town hall, the epicenter of the galas. In the distance, the façade of the town hall with a stage presided over by a large circus tent can be seen, while a member of Las Apresuradas walks towards it with two members of Los Minivirgues. The mogollón is composed of different superimposed images of members of the Los Villeros, Peña El Casco, Rondalla Volcanes del Teide, Peña Los Chiringuitos, Los Trinkosos, Pizzicatos, Virgueritos, Apresuradas, Minivirgues, and spontaneous groups of the Baile de Piñata troupe, along with two vintage cars. All this is viewed from the opening of the circus tents, the central theme of this year’s carnival.
