Playa San Juan, Santa Cruz de Tenerife y Alcalá

FIESTA OF LA VIRGEN DEL CARMEN

Santa Cruz celebrates its fiestas on the closest Sunday to the 16th of July, followed by Playa San Juan, on the first Sunday in August and Playa de Alcalá, which, unlike the other two, worships La Virgen de Candelaria.

The same rituals take place in all three places. The Virgin, preceded by a ribbon dance, is taken from her church down to the beach, where boats and launches await her. Fishermen take her aboard the lucky boat that has been drawn to carry her in the procession. She is accompanied by the dancers, standard, mystics and the priest.

The boats' sirens and the instruments of the musicians can be heard constantly during the procession. The Virgin is then brought back ashore and placed on an altar in the bay. She is taken back to the church after a fireworks display.