Ox-drawn carts, traditional costumes, local wine handed out from the carretas: romerías are the beating heart of Canarian tradition. This page answers the question everyone asks — is there one today?
Originally a pilgrimage in honour of a village’s patron saint, now the biggest Canarian folk celebration: a parade of ox-drawn carts, folk music groups, traditional costumes (magos), and food or wine often handed out from the carts. Each one has its own character — Tegueste and La Orotava are among the largest.
Usually between 12pm and 1pm, after mass. Arrive at least an hour early to find a spot along the route and watch the carts being prepared. Exact times are indicative — check each romería’s page, updated as soon as the official programme is out.
The romería is the daytime parade with carts; a paseo romero is a shorter, more local version; the baile de magos is the evening dance in traditional dress, often held the night before or a few days earlier. All three combine in a village’s patron saint festivities.
Check the "Today" section at the top of this page: it shows live which romerías are taking place today, based on the official patron saint festival calendar. If none is on today, you'll find this weekend's just below.
Yes, romerías are free, open-air popular festivals for everyone, spectators and participants alike. Only food and drinks sold on site (often by local associations) may cost money.
The biggest and best known are San Roque in Garachico, La Orotava and Tegueste. Every village has its own — check the calendar above for the next ones near you.
The procession moves at walking pace for several kilometres: carretas — carts decorated with flowers and branches — pulled by yuntas, pairs of oxen, with participants in traje de mago. Parrandas play along on timple and guitar, and papas arrugadas, cheese, gofio and local wine are handed out from the carts. The route starts well outside the village and ends at the church or hermitage, usually with a mass.
It is the coastal version: the procession on land continues out to sea, with the statue of the Virgin carried aboard decorated boats along the bay. On Tenerife you will find it at El Médano and Los Abrigos (Granadilla de Abona), at Abades (Arico) and at Los Cristianos, where the Virgen del Carmen goes out to sea in July.