A common question on Tripadvisor's Tenerife Forum is “What dates do I book my holidays so they will coincide with the Tenerife Carnival?

As the Carnival is always linked to Easter the dates are moveable – below is a schedule so you can organise your trips.

The Wednesday BEFORE Shrove Tuesday:
Election of the Carnival Queen. This event is a huge evening gala.

The Friday BEFORE Shrove Tuesday:
Once it has it's Queen, Santa Cruz Carnival takes to the streets on the Friday evening, with the Cabalgata Anunciadora, followed by the obligatory fireworks.

Shrove Tuesday
The Main Parade in Santa Cruz (the Avenida de Anaga and Marítima), from around 4pm and ends in a fantastic firework display at around 9pm.

Ash Wednesday:
Burial of the Sardine. This takes place in both Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz on the same night. Men dress up as "Widows" to mourn the poor old sardine and generally party the night away.

The Saturday AFTER Shrove Tuesday:
Junior Parade in Santa Cruz and also the day of the Main Carnival Parade in Puerto de la Cruz.

The Sunday AFTER Shrove Tuesday:
Sunday morning is the Gran Concurso en la Ciudad de Automóviles Antiguos from the Calle La Noria in the old part of Santa Cruz.

CARNIVAL in SANTA CRUZ and PUERTO DE LA CRUZ

YEAR

DATES

PARADE
Santa Cruz

FUNERAL
of the Sardine

PARADE
Puerto de la Cruz

2010

07/02-21/02

Feb 16

Feb 17

Feb 20

2011

27/02-13/03

Mar 08  

Mar 09

Mar 12 

2012  

12/02-26/02

Feb 21

Feb 22

 Feb 25

2013

03/02-17/02

Feb 12

Feb 13

Feb 16

 

 

 

 

 

Carnival Information can be had from the following websites

http://www.pinkcanaries.com/tenerifec...

http://www.todotenerife.es/index.php?...

http://www.whattenerife.com/carnival-...

http://www.secret-tenerife.com/2009/0...