La Laguna is hosting its long-awaited White Night today, an event filled with leisure and culture aimed at enhancing commercial activity in the city and marking the commencement of the Christmas season. From mid-morning until the early hours of Sunday, the city is abuzz with a packed agenda of theatrical, musical, artistic, and sporting events designed for all demographics, intended to inspire festive shopping.
The mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, along with the Councilor for Commerce, Estefanía Díaz, officially launched this celebratory day, accompanied by the popular television personalities ‘Panchita’ and ‘Servando’, who brought a touch of humour while zipping down the zip line set up on Nava y Grimón street, one of the highlight attractions of this year’s event. The inauguration ceremony also saw the participation of the Councilor for Commerce, Kristen Martín, alongside numerous local authorities and representatives from the retail sector.
Luis Yeray Gutiérrez encouraged everyone to enjoy “a magical day with over a hundred activities spread across more than 30 venues throughout the city, tailored for all ages. We feel very optimistic based on the feedback from merchants, as they express that this day is incredibly vital for their businesses,” he stated. The mayor lauded the collaborative efforts made across various departments of the City Council to ensure the success of this event.
During the opening ceremony, Estefanía Díaz highlighted, “today is a day to celebrate the vibrancy of La Laguna. The daytime events have a distinctly participatory character and are specifically designed for children and families, reinforcing our city as an inclusive and welcoming space for different preferences and age groups.”
Díaz also underscored initiatives to simplify shopping on this day, noting that lockers have been established in La Laguna Open Commercial Zone (LLZC), situated at 34 Obispo Rey Redondo Street, and in the Caja Escape Room location at Calle Herradores 23. Patrons can store their bags until midnight and collect them until Monday the 25th during business hours.
To ensure the safety of the event, at 8:00 a.m., CECOPAL was established in the Local Police headquarters, implementing a plan that incorporates resources from the Canarian Police, the National Police Corps, and the support of Civil Protection. Starting at 5:00 p.m., the drone unit of the National Police will become operational, providing real-time images of the event’s situation and the crowd levels in the city streets.
In regard to mobility, “we have everything arranged with an alternative parking proposal to facilitate access to the city centre,” remarked Domingo Galván, the Councilor for Mobility and Transport, explaining that all parking facilities at the Campus of Guajara will be available until 2:00 a.m., alongside special Tram services, as well as parking facilities at the Alcampo Shopping Centre, which will provide free shuttle buses and enhanced services on several lines.
The White Night 2024 programme boasts a diverse array of leisure activities at several key locations throughout the city. On Nava and Grimón Street, in addition to the zip line attraction, visitors can partake in a climbing wall, dance classes, inclusive physical activities, and sports tournaments encompassing disciplines such as skateboarding, karate, boxing, football, basketball, motorsport, chess, and various forms of Zumba, including inclusive Zumba sessions. As Díaz pointed out, “it is organised to be accessible, healthy, and appealing, encouraging everyone to partake in the lively and communal spirit of the city.”
Another significant location is Heraclio Sánchez Street, which will host more than 200 recreational activities until 6:00 p.m., transforming into a dynamic showcase of the educational, cultural, and social programming from the 46 community centres in the municipality. The Councilor for Citizen Participation, Fran Hernández, highlighted, “this is a unique opportunity to display the work conducted in our centres and connect the community.”
Street theatre, featuring performances by Bolina Títeres, La Finestra Nou Circ, and Tiritirantes, has enlivened the city centre during midday with entertaining parades, which will continue this afternoon with the French company Remue Menage. Performances by Luisa Machado and Alberto Méndez, La Cangreja Music, and Zenet in various locations have provided a musical highlight to the earlier part of the day.
As this journey through the city continues, the Plaza de la Junta Suprema has become the hub of magic during the morning, hosting acts by magicians Dragster, Malbert, Héctor, and David Borrás.
Culinary offerings are another major allure of the event, with a special area in Plaza Antonio Mederos Sosa known as ‘Chocoland’, dedicated to those with a sweet tooth. The commercial offerings also include ‘markets’ of local brands along Camino Largo and Parque de la Constitución, granting businesses the chance to showcase their products in a prime setting.
In the afternoon, Doctor Olivera Square will feature comedic performances by Lily Quintana with ‘Tacones Prohibidos’ at 6:00 p.m., followed by Abubukaka’s comedic act at 7:30 p.m., and Depalike’s subsequent performance at 9:15 p.m.
‘Crystal Palace’
At 7:00 p.m., Plaza del Cristo will transform into a grand open-air dance hall with the performance ‘Cristal Palace’, presented by the French company Transe Express. A massive suspended chandelier will be the focal point of this performance, blending theatre, music, and dance. Later, at 8:30 p.m., the French company Remue Ménage will parade through the city streets with their spectacle ‘The Flight’, immersing the audience in a dreamlike atmosphere reminiscent of Paris.
Also tonight, near the Torre de la Concepción, attendees can enjoy a performance by the Galician group Tanxungueiras at 9:15 p.m., and a concert by Totó Noriega with his rendition of ‘Chan Chan’ at 11:00 p.m.
The day will conclude with a performance by the musical group La Pegatina, who will entertain in the Old Market car park at 11:00 p.m. Just prior to this, a concert featuring María al Vés will take place at 9:30 p.m.
Additional noteworthy performances include those by Eva Sierra and María Ruiz in Plaza Hermano Ramón (8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.), Héctor Quintero and Los Saxos del Averno in Plaza Junta Suprema (8:45 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.), and Raúl Clyde, Woss Las Palmas, Adam Loor, and DJ Adrián Déniz in Plaza Víctor Zurita starting at 11:00 p.m. At the same Plaza Junta Suprema, the Jive Dance Workshop will present a show at 6:30 p.m., followed by Sixteen Tones, and Roking Balboa at 7:30 p.m.
Moreover, the festive lighting already installed will imbue the day with a magical atmosphere, brightening the streets and public spaces into a stage filled with light, colour, and music for the enjoyment of all attendees.
“An unforgettable experience that merges commerce, culture, and enjoyment for everyone,” emphasised the mayor of Commerce.
