Tenerife will be buzzing from June 3 to 8 with the largest military display seen on the islands in the last forty years, as the Avenida Marítima in Santa Cruz starts the countdown to host the Armed Forces Parade, which this year will take place in the capital of Tenerife.
Starting on Monday, June 2, stands, sound systems, and arches for the parade will begin to be set up, which will be presided over on Saturday, June 7 by the King and Queen of Spain, Don Felipe and Doña Letizia.
Among the final preparations by the Chicharrero City Council is the organization of a cocktail to surprise the guests, costing more than 66,000 euros. The menu must obligatorily include potatoes, ribs and corn, roasted pork leg, and Canarian cheeses, as well as desserts.
The reception following the Armed Forces Day parade will take place at the Maritime Park facilities with between 800 and 1,000 guests, including politicians, military personnel, and other authorities.
Official Agenda
The program of events open to the public will start on Tuesday, June 3. From ten in the morning until eight in the evening, the port esplanade and the first section of the Avenida Marítima will transform into an open-air museum: on the esplanade, Leopard 2E tanks, tactical all-terrain VAMTAC vehicles, several NH-90 helicopters, and, docked at the pier, the ships Juan Carlos I and Álvaro de Bazán will be on display.
The scene will be reactivated on the evening of Wednesday, June 4. At 7:15 pm a dynamic exhibition is scheduled, combining a rescue simulation, a demonstration of the canine service, and a bomb deactivation exercise. This will all take place again on the port esplanade, with free access for onlookers and enthusiasts.
Music
Music will be the highlight on Thursday, June 5. At 6:15 pm, the Plaza de España will host a military band meeting featuring marches and popular pieces performed by formations from the three branches of the military.
Just twenty-four hours later, on the night of Thursday, June 6, the city will witness one of the most spectacular and, at the same time, most delicate moments for traffic: the general rehearsal of the parade, starting at 10:00 pm, requiring the closure of the Avenida Marítima between the Palmetum and the Anaga link.
Main Event
The big day will arrive on Saturday, June 7. At 11:30 am, with Their Majesties the King and Queen presiding over the stands, a paratrooper jump by PAPEA, the solemn flag-raising, a tribute to the fallen, and finally, the air and ground parade will take place along the coastal strip, concluding with the flag lowering.
Finally, Sunday, June 8 will be reserved for those lagging behind: between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm the static exhibition will remain open, and visitors can revisit the ships docked at the port of Santa Cruz. This open day will conclude an intense week dedicated to the Armed Forces in the capital of Tenerife.
Extensive Deployment
The parade that Tenerife will witness on June 7 will be far from a mere review, as no less than 3,266 military personnel will march, over eight hundred of them forming the Solemn Honours Section that will open the parade.
Above their heads, an unusually busy sky for the islands will roar. The Air and Space Force has assigned 34 aircraft—from Eurofighter jets that will break the air in formation to C-295 transports and the gigantic A400 M—escorted by 21 NH-90, Cougar, and Seahawk helicopters that will outline the aerial display.
On the ground, the numbers are equally impressive: 81 tactical vehicles will accompany five armored pieces, including the renowned VRC Centauro and Leopard 2E tanks, unloaded days earlier from the logistic ship Camino Español. It will be, in sum, a deployment of massive numbers and top-tier material seldom assembled in the Archipelago.
Traffic Closures
Those planning to move around Santa Cruz de Tenerife during the DIFAS events should pay attention to the traffic plan devised by the City Council.
The most drastic measure will come with the complete closure of the Avenida Marítima in the section between the Palmetum and the Tenerife Auditorium on the night of Thursday 6 when the parade is rehearsed, and throughout the morning of Saturday 7, the day of the official event. To bypass the area, traffic will be diverted via the TF-11 and Tres de Mayo Avenue, the obligatory route to access both the port and the Anaga area.
Public transportation will boost its services, with trams and TITSA buses increasing frequencies and shuttles from eight in the morning on Saturday; it’s advisable to transfer at the La Laguna and El Chorrillo interchanges to avoid congestion in the center. Additionally, starting at midnight on Friday 6, parking will be prohibited along the parade route, a restriction that won’t be lifted until six in the evening on Saturday.
Residents whose garages fall within the security perimeter can apply for a temporary pass via the municipal website, allowing them to enter and exit with their vehicles during the closures.
How to Watch
Those wishing to watch the parade up close can do so from the stands the City Council has installed in front of the Cabildo. There are five thousand seats and they will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s wise to arrive early to secure a seat.
If you prefer a more panoramic view, gaining height will suffice. Many rooftops in the city will be filled with people enjoying an aerial view of the route. Additionally, the landscaped slopes of the Maritime Park will allow a view along the avenue with the Atlantic as a backdrop.
Giant screens will also be set up in these strategic points, broadcasting every detail live, from the paratrooper jump to the passage of the armored vehicles.
