They say that the carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the closest you'll get in Europe to carnival on the scale and style of the one in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Taking place over fifteen days, it's a chance to dance, party and be wowed by the extravagant, flamboyant costumes the carnival goers wear.

The Carnival Queen gala

The Carnival Queen is chosen on the first Wednesday of the two weeks of Carnival. A gala takes place in which the contestants for the crown parade in their carnival costumes along a 1,200 metre stage. With a queen chosen, the carnival begins on the Friday of that week and is a three day fiesta of fun, glamour, colour, music and dance. Local groups sing both social and political songs to entertain the crowd and send the dancers on their merry way through the parade.

El Coso

After this three day party comes El Coso, the climax on Carnival Tuesday, of all of the partying. with parades lasting hours taking place along the seafront of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Carnival Queen, floats and dancers put on a spectacular show.

Ash Wednesday

On the second Wednesday of Carnival, Ash Wednesday, the day after El Coso, the Burial of the Sardine event takes place. A sardine puppet is paraded through the street with widows and mourners crying as it is led to its "burial" where it is set on fire, representing the start of Lent, or Cuaresma in Spanish.

Piñata chica

Carnival on the island of Tenerife does actually have one more event at the weekend following Ash Wednesday. The celebration of the Piñata chica has more shows, dances and parades and is held in the town of Tacaronte. This carnival has an antique car show and more activities aimed at children.With its own carnival queen gala, parades and sardine burial, the Piñata Chica carnival is the perfect excuse to party some more!

Tenerife is an excellent choice of location to buy a holiday home or a place to retire to in the sun. With excellent year-round sunshine, it is within a three to four hour plane ride of Northern European airports and is an ideal choice for almost guaranteed sunshine in the winter, and sunbathing in the summer.