Mayor Mari Brito has completed in La Frontera the tour that began in 2020 across the seven islands. The opening speech by former prosecutor Eligio Hernández will kick off the events on August 5.
The Candelaria City Council has wrapped up this weekend its initiative to tour all the islands presenting the Festivals in honour of the Virgin of Candelaria, the General Patroness of the Canary Islands. The event, held in the Plaza de La Candelaria in the Herreño municipality of La Frontera, marked the culmination of a journey that started in 2020 and has brought the Marian festivities to every corner of the Archipelago.
The Mayor of Candelaria, Mari Brito, highlighted during her speech that "we thus complete the institutional itinerary of presentations of the Festivals that began in 2020 on each of the islands." Brito emphasised that, for the first time in history, the festivities have consecutively toured the entire Archipelago, "fulfilling its character of regional leadership." The mayor recalled that over the years, the opening speakers, the authors of the promotional poster, and the musical performances have come from seven related towns, with events in Candelaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de La Palma, Tetir, Chipude, San Bartolomé, and now, La Frontera.
"It has been a fair and correct initiative that has brought La Morenita, like never before, closer to the entire island geography, blending faith, culture, and admiration for the Mother. This is how we do things in the Canaries: uniting and connecting," affirmed Brito, who thanked the team behind the festivities that makes it possible year after year.
The Mayor of La Frontera, Pablo Rodríguez Cejas, welcomed attendees to the municipality and noted that "it is a pride for the municipality of La Frontera to host this presentation as it coexists under the same mantle of the Patroness, the Virgin of Candelaria." Rodríguez Cejas expressed his satisfaction that the drums and traditions of the island reach Candelaria and that the design by artist Ayelén Marrero, author of the poster, captures the history of these festivities alongside the words of the opening speaker.
The event featured a performance by the Banda de Música Las Candelas, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and a performance by Angélica Pérez. Also participating were the parish priest of the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria church in La Frontera, Juan Antonio Rodríguez, and the Prior of the Basilica of Candelaria, Fray José Melo González, who invited all Canarians to visit the house of the Patroness in the coming weeks.
The opening speech for the festivities will be given by Eligio Hernández Gutiérrez, a retired magistrate and former Attorney General, and will take place on Wednesday, August 5, at the Basilica of Candelaria. The event will begin with the Dance of the Virgin of El Hierro, performed by the Agrupación Folklórica Tejeguate, featuring musical contributions from Herreña singer Claudia Álamo and her recital 'Selvadentro'.
In terms of music, the festivities will feature a top-tier lineup at the venue next to the City Council. On Friday, August 7, the 11th edition of the concert 'A Orillas del Mar' will be held, celebrating 50 years of the Banda de Música Las Candelas, with international violinist Ara Malikian and musical direction by Mauro Fariña Alonso. On Saturday, August 8, Café Quijano will perform as part of their 'Miami 1990 Tour'; on Sunday, August 9, Los Cantadores will take the stage with special guest Falete; and on Tuesday, August 11, Anaé will present her show 'Al otro lado del Atlántico'. The programming will also include, among others, the 4th International Folklore Festival Villa de Candelaria, a concert by Los Sabandeños, and the grand Offering to the Patroness 'Las Candelas de Canarias', which will bring together artists from all the islands.
Sports will play a prominent role with the traditional wrestling events on Thursday, August 13, at the venue next to the City Council: the XII Wrestling of Minors 'Tribute to the wrestling of the half mountain', the VIII Women's Wrestling in honour of the Virgin of Candelaria, and the XXVIII Institutional Wrestling, featuring teams from Tenerife and Fuerteventura. Additionally, on Saturday, August 15, the 35th Athletic Floral Offering to the Virgin of Candelaria will take place, with hundreds of runners arriving from Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The media will once again take centre stage. Several of the main events, including the Guanche ceremony, the wrestling matches, and the solemn concelebration of the Eucharist, will be broadcast live on La 2 of TVE in the Canaries and TV Canaria, with the collaboration of Cope Canarias and Candelaria Radio during the central days. Additionally, on Friday, August 7, 'The radio from Candelaria' will be a special programme bringing together the most important radio stations in the Canaries in the Plaza de la Cruz Pérez.
Culturally, on Thursday, August 6, the book 'La Virgen de Candelaria en Cuba. History and presence among Canary Island emigrants and their descendants' will be presented. On the same day, at the Alfarero Casa Las Miquelas Centre, the I Conferences 'Al Bernegal. Traditional Canary pottery from Candelaria' will commence.
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