Tenerife Carnaval: Piñata Weekend

Shrove Tuesday might have been the "end" of carnival in the strictly religious sense, but Tenerife Carnaval isn't over yet ... by a long way as the party is still going strong this weekend in both Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz.

Mascarita, Ponte Tacón

Tonight from 8.30 p.m. in the Plaza del Charco in Puerto de la Cruz, the now infamous Mascarita Ponte el Tacón or Men's Marathon in High Heels   (more photos here) is taking place, which we're told has now reached it's 15th annual edition. Some 200 fools in unconvincing drag will attempt to get their leg over obstacles in high heels   (this image will help you visualize the spectacle), as the public looks on bemused mostly, I imagine. There are prizes too - not unlike in Canine Agility Championships - for the fastest, the most tenacious and so on ...

The main parade of Carnaval in Puerto de la Cruz (see photos from 2008) takes place on Saturday, February 28th, starting at 4 p.m. (ish.)

Sábado de Piñata - Carnaval de día

Sábado de Piñata (Saturday), in Santa Cruz the most important Carnaval de Día (Daytime Carnaval) in the world will be taking place, according to Radiotelevisión Canaria.

It might be because it's the only designated daytime carnival in the world - we haven't checked - but nevertheless an afternoon full of spectacular shows (see program) can be expected in the Plazas del Príncipe, La Candelaria, Europa and Weyler. The biggest act English speakers will recognize is Craig David. As a finale at around 4 p.m., there'll be the biggest exhibition of sound fireworks ever to have taken place on the islands.

This noisy celebration that was baptised "gran traca" when it appeared for the first time in Tenerife last year, is like the mascletas (bang fests) of Valencia.

Coso Infantil

Although the live music and fireworks extravaganza of daytime Carnaval is what's being promoted most about the final weekend of carnival in Santa Cruz these days, there are other, more traditional, events taking place.

One I highly recommend is the Coso Infantil - Children's Carnaval Parade - from 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 28th. It's just like the big parade, but with  added CuteOverload. Well, I mean, just look at these little elephants! Could you resist hundreds of small people dressed like this? Of course not! The route is Calle Numancia, Pilar, Villalba Hervás to the Plaza de La Candelaria.

Concurso de coches antiguos

On Sunday morning, is the XXXVIII Gran Concurso en la Ciudad de Automóviles Antiguos (I make that the 38th edition of this gathering of Classic Cars), which meets at the Parque García Sanabria (see map) at 10 a.m.

Then at mid-day, the cars will leave from the Parque García Sanabria to make a circuit of the city, passing through the streets of Numancia, Pilar, Plaza del Príncipe, Villalba Hervás, La Marina, Avenidas de Anaga and Marítima, ending in the car park of the Club Náutico de Tenerife (see map).