Events & Attractions on Lanzarote
Posted by admin | Travel Insurance | Posted on July 18th, 2011
Lanzarote may be one of the smaller islands in the Canarian archipelago but it still has plenty to offer visiting tourists in the way of culture. With numerous fiestas and many free events featuring live music and local artwork, there is usually something new to see at all times of the year.
During the summer months, for instance, there are events such as Jazz Canarias, which brings international stars from the jazz firmament to the islands to perform. And whilst Lanzarote doesn’t always get the headline act, the concert is free and normally takes place outdoors.
Perhaps the best way to immerse oneself in the island´s culture is by staying in one of many holiday villas in Lanzarote which can be found in all three resorts as well as in more rural and idyllic spots.
Home grown events include festivities held in honour of the patron saint of fishermen, Nuestra Senora del Carmen, which run from mid July into August. The highlight of this particular fiesta sees the saint’s effigy taken out of the church and paraded out to sea on a flotilla of fishing vessels.
As the island’s history is inextricably entwined with the fishing industry, the celebrations take place from one end of Lanzarote to the other. But to see the most impressive procession, it’s best to be based around the old town of Puerto del Carmen.
And the old town and neighbouring enclave of Los Mojones are two of the areas with the greatest abundance of Puerto del Carmen villas. Many of which provide exceptionally comfortable and well thought out accommodation, with lovely private gardens and swimming pools.
During the autumn and winter months, there are nautical events such as the Arc rally which sees cruisers arriving at Lanzarote ports to make the Atlantic crossing to St Lucia. Whilst in September, the miracle of Dolores is celebrated by many thousands of locals.
This particular fiesta is held to mark the cessation of a lava flow which threatened to engulf the village of Mancha Blanca in 1824. And the miracle was purportedly the result of Dolores praying to the Virgin Mary.
What marks this fiesta out from the rest is that it is unique to Lanzarote and involves many thousands of local people donning traditional Canarian costume to walk across the island their homes to Mancha Blanca. And it culminates in a huge outdoor party, with food stalls and live music that goes on well into the night.