Tenerife's cultural scene is overflowing with oodles of festivals celebrating arts, music, theater, film and traditional Canarian culture. No matter where or when you are in Tenerife, there is literally always something going on whether it be internationally renowned festivals like the Canarias Jazz + Heineken festival, traditional Canarian craft showcases, or film series on the beach.
In addition, the financial company Caja Canarias heads up various cultural activities and even has its own cultural center in Santa Cruz. Check out their website, www.cajacanarias.com/obsf/, for information and schedules of film series, expositions, concerts, theater performances and more.
-ARTS-
Festival Internacional de Arte en la Calle "Mueca"
When: March
Where: Puerto de la Cruz
Website: www.festivalmueca.com
Theater, music, photography, charicatures, graffiti, gastronomy, etc.
Concurso de Fotografía Sobre Tradiciones Canarias
When: May
Where: Los Realejos
Photography
Arte Joven en la Calle
When: October
Where: La Orotava
Painting, music, photography, theater, story-telling, dance (classical, modern, folk, salsa, breakdance...), etc.
Cruzarte: Certamen de Arte Joven
When: October
Where: Puerto de la Cruz (Venue: Castillo San Felipe)
Website: www.juventudpuertocruz.com/certamen.htm
Painting, story-telling, poetry, photography, short films, etc.
Fotonoviembre - Festival Internacional de Fotografía
When: November - December
Where: Santa Cruz, La Laguna, & other towns throughout Tenerife
Website: www.fotonoviembre.com
Photography
-MUSIC-
Festival de Música de Canarias
When: January - March
Where: Santa Cruz
(Venue: Auditorio de Tenerife, Teatro Guimerá)
Website: www.festivaldecanarias.com
Classical music, orchestras, choirs
Realejazz
When: February (2nd weekend)
Where: Los Realejos
Jazz
Festival Internacional de Música Arona
When: February 9-20
Where: Los Cristianos
(Venue: Centro Cultural)
Various music genres
Festival de Música Antigua y Barroca
When: April
Where: Puerto de la Cruz
Baroque music
Festival de Música Brasileña
When: June
Where: La Laguna
Website: www.tensamba.com
Brazilian & Canarian music
Canarias Jazz + Heineken
When: July
Where: Various towns throughout Tenerife
Website: www.canariasjazz.com
Jazz & blues
Festival Músicas del Mundo
When: July
Where: Los Realejos
World music
El Merengazo
When: August
Where: Santa Cruz (Venue: Plaza de España)
Merengue, salsa, reggaeton, pop rock
Festival de Candelaria
When: August
Where: Candelaria
Website: www.festivaldecandelaria.com
Original music from throughout the Spanish-speaking world
Festival Croma: Encuentro de Música Avanzada y Arte Multimedia de Canarias
When: September
Where: Puerto de la Cruz (Venue: Castillo San Felipe)
Website: www.juventudpuertocruz.com/croma/index.htm
Music and multi-media art
Heineken Campus Rock
When: September
Where: La Laguna
Website: www.heinekencampusrock.com
Major rock concert featuring big names
Festival de Ópera de Tenerife
When: September-November
Where: Santa Cruz (Venue: Auditorio de Tenerife)
Website: www.auditoriodetenerife.com
Opera
Temporada de Música
When: October - June
Where: Los Realejos (Venues: Casa Municipal de a Cultura, Ayuntamiento)
Classical music
Magma (Meeting Approaching Global Music & Art)
When: December
Where: Santa Cruz (Day Venue: Sala Lounge GBN, Night Venue: Parque Marítimo César Manríuez), Las Amerícas (Venue: Sala Habana), Las Galletas (Venue: Vai Moana)
Website: www.elementhal.com
Electronic music
-THEATER-
Encuentro de Narración Oral Escénica
When: January
Where: Puerto de la Cruz
Story-telling
Festival Internacional de Titeres
When: May
Where: Los Realejos
Puppetry companies from all over the world
Cuentos de Arena y Sal
When: July
Where: Rambla de Castro, Los Realejos
Story-telling, poetry, theater & music
Festival de Narración Oral Escénica
When: July / August
Where: El Sauzal (Venue: Plaza de San Pedro)
Website: www.teatrofia.net/unveranodecuento.htm
Story-telling
Festival Internacional de Títeres "Teatrapo"
When: October
Where: Puerto de la Cruz (Venue: Parque San Francisco)
International puppetry acts
-FILM-
Cine de Verano al Aire Libre
When: August
Where: Santa Cruz (Venue: Parque Cultural Viera y Clavijo)
Open-air summer film series
Una Playa de Cine
When: August (2nd week)
Where: Los Realejos (Venue: Playa del Socorro)
Open-air movie projections on the beach
Festival de Cine Histórico
When: October
Where: La Laguna (Venue: Multicines Aguere)
Website: www.fichla.com/festival/
Full length & short historical films & documentaries
-TRADITIONAL MUSIC, ARTISANSHIP, GASTRONOMY-
Feria Regional de Artesanía
When: March
Where: San José, Arafo
Traditional crafts, Canarian sports, folk music
Festival Folk y Raices
When: March - April
Where: La Laguna
Folk music & other traditional activities
Feria Regional de Alimentos Canarios
When: April
Where: Arona
Typical Canarian gastronomy
Día de Canarias
When: May 30
Where: Various towns throughout Tenerife
Traditional sports, folk music, dance, gastronomy, workshops, etc.
Feria de Artesania
When: June - July
Where: La Matanza
Traditional crafts
Día de las Tradiciones
When: June
Where: Guía de Isora, Chirche
Showcase of various Canarian traditions
Feria de Artesanía
When: July (1st weekend)
Where: Garachico
Traditional crafts
Festival Internacional de Folclore
When: Late July / Early August
Where: Los Cristianos
African, European, American folk music & dance groups
Festival Internacional de Folclore
When: August (third week)
Where: El Médano, Granadilla
Folk music groups
Feria de Artesania de Pinolere
When: September
Where: La Orotava
Traditional crafts
Festival Sabandeño
When: September (with Fiestas del Santísimo Cristo)
Where: La Laguna
Website: www.sabanda.org
Folk music
Feria de la Alimentación de Canarias
When: October
Where: Santa Cruz (Venue: Recinto Ferial)
Website: www.iftsa.com
Typical Canarian gastronomy
Muestra Iberoamericana
When: November
Where: Santa Cruz (Venue: Recinto Ferial)
Website: es.geocities.com/cdiaea/ferias/15feria/
Canarian, Latin American & Spanish traditional crafts
