Canary Islands will focus on Candelaria on 15 August for the festival celebrating the Patroness of the archipelago. This year’s festivities will include religious, institutional, and traditional events, drawing thousands of visitors to the town.
The celebrations will kick off with drums and traditional instruments from the Guanchería Cultural Association of Los Realejos performing a ceremonial offering at the Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria. This will be followed by participants in the 35th Athletic Floral Offering to the Virgin.
Candelaria’s Mayor, Mari Brito, noted that the town has seen an influx of pilgrims visiting the Patroness, with numbers particularly high leading up to the event on Friday. She expressed that the municipality is ready for one of the most significant days on the Canary Islands’ festive and religious calendar, highlighting the blend of tradition, devotion, and official representation surrounding the celebration.
The formal events will begin at 10:45 AM at Avenida de la Constitución, outside the Town Hall, with a military parade and the reception of the Spanish monarch’s representative, Astrid María Pérez Batista, the President of the Canary Islands Parliament. She will receive honours from the Honour Unit.
A civic procession will then make its way from the Town Hall to the Basilica, led by the mayor, local councilors, and representatives from other municipal offices. The procession will include officials from the Canary Government, Tenerife Cabildo, Parliament, Congress, Senate, and military authorities.
The procession will be accompanied by the Las Candelas Music Band and will pass along Avenida de la Constitución and Obispo Pérez Cáceres Street, known locally as La Arena.
Upon arrival at the Basilica, Eloy Alberto Santiago Santiago, the bishop of the Nivariense Diocese, and Dailos José Melo, the rector of the Basilica, will officially welcome Astrid María Pérez Batista.
The religious service will include the participation of the Voces para la Esperanza Villa de Candelaria choir and the Las Candelas Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Silvia Alonso.
Following the service, a procession will take place with the sacred image of the Virgin of Candelaria through Obispo Pérez Cáceres and Los Príncipes streets, led by a squad in period uniform.
