Gran Canaria - Carnival

Life is a celebration - and there are few places where this can be celebrated as spectacularly as during carnival time on Gran Canaria, where the beach, glorious weather and the immense colorfulness of carnival come together to create the backdrop for an unforgettable fiesta.

The Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Carnival is one of the most popular festivals in the world for a reason: it has more than earned this reputation thanks to the overwhelming wealth of color and the exuberant atmosphere that reigns here in the middle of winter with parades, dances and competitions everywhere in the streets.

In addition to the wonderfully open and sociable inhabitants, the good weather guarantees fun and entertainment for several weeks around Santa Catalina Park, the carnival's foolish epicenter. Here you can see the craziest costumes, enjoy performances by the music and dance groups known as murgas and comparsas, as well as drag queens, and indulge in the many small spectacles.

"Dress up as best you can", goes a verse by the composer Sindo Saavedra, which perfectly describes how the majority of the island's inhabitants feel at this time. This veritable explosion of jubilation in the island's capital can also be experienced on a similar scale in Maspalomas. And if you prefer things a little quieter, you can enjoy smaller carnival celebrations in almost every town on the island.

Find out more at: www.grancanaria.com