What’s On Fuerteventura – Corralejo Carnival 2023

2nd – 12th March 2023

Thursday 2 March 2023

11.30am
Pasacalles CEIP ( Parade of School Children)
Parade of school kids through the streets of El Cotillo..

7.30pm
Opening parade of the “Carnival of Carnivals 2023”
Participants:
La Batucada Atlantica.
La Comparsa Infantile – “A taste of Corumba”.
La Batencade Corumba.
Murga las Sargoridas & Murga Infantil los Garabatos.
Dance groups: Urban Ladies, Urban Babes, Afro Disco of the 70s, Afro-Latin Tribe,
And La Batacuda from Puerto del Rosario, Sambukka.

Leaving from the Sports centre next to the Church, Pepito el de Tindaya goes by car to the stage on the Main Street where he will officially open the “Carnival of Carnivals 2023” and will introduce the candidates for the adult and child Gala Queens.

Friday 3rd March 2023

Primer encuentro de “La escuela de Carnaval”
(First meeting of “The School’s Carnival”)
9:00 am
A Parade of local school kids, starting from the Bernabe Figueroa School (next to the Church) to the Carnival Stage on the Main Street.
Followed by performances from the children for the “Escuela de Carnival”

8.30pm

Crowning of the Adult Carnival Queen 2023 with performances by the Academy Cinco Sentidos (Five Senses Academy).
Murga las Sargorias
Batacuda Corumba
Dance groups: Tribu Afro Latin & Urban Ladies
Top of the bill is Singer Salva Ortega, Winner of the program “Menudas Estrellas” on Antena 3 and finalist of “Barvo Bravismo” on telecinco.

Presenters: Pilar Lopez and Alvaro Veiga.
To finish off the night it is Party Time!!!
With Grupo Bomba Y Kandela, with a live orchestra and DJ Cat

Saturday 4th March

“Carnival de Dia” (Carnival Day)
From 12:00pm to 4:00am

11:00 am
6th Running of the “Solidarity Carnival Race”.

12.00pm
Street performances with the Batucada Atlantica.
Followed by musical performances from:
DJ Ricardo Araujo
Orquestra Kandela
Groupo Aseres
Virginia Guantanamera
DJ Arrocin
Orquestra mambo Latino.
Orquestra la sabrosa and performer Tony TUN TUN.

During the day the best “Carnival Character” will be chosen and during the night the adult Fancy Dress contest will take place, with the categories:
Individual, couple & group, which will be judged between 10:00pm and 1:00am..
The winner will be announced at 2am

Sunday, March 5

6:00pm
Gala De La Reina Infantil de Carnaval, (Gala for the child Carnival Queen)

Crowning of the child Gala Queen, with performances by the Datana Academy and other local groups including;
Murga los Garabatos
The children’s group “Taste of Carumba”
Dance groups, Urban Babies, Afro Disco, and The Queens.

Monday 6 March

9.00pm
Gran Gala Drag queen “La Oliva Orgullosa” ( La Oliva Pride)
International tourist event with the participation of all the most famous Drag Queens in the Canaries.
Presented by Roberto Herrera.
The night continues with “Noche Joven” (Youth Night) with performances from:
DJ Abian Reyes & DJ Eu.

Tuesday 7th March

“Martes de Carnaval” (Carnival Tuesday)
5.00pm to 7.00pm
Children’s Party with inflatables, workshops, face painting, animation with characters and fancy dress contest for the little ones.

7.00pm
Children’s Musical “The Magic of Carnival” with clips from your favourite movies.

Wednesday March 8

Fiesta de Nuestros Mayors (Fiesta for Our Elders),
7.00pm
Performances from Pepe Benavente and Grupo Jacomer

Thursday March 9

Gala de las Danzas (Dance Gala).
7.00 pm
Opening with the group PIAS and with performances from the children’s and adult groups of the municipality:
Batacuda Corumba
Children and Youth Group “A Taste of Corumba”
Dance groups, Urban Babies, Urban ladies, “The Queens”, Afro Latin Tribe, Afro Disco from the 70s & Mifaya
Presenters: Nuria Gonzalez and Francisco Manuel Ruiz.

Friday March 10

10.00am
Parade of school children through the streets of La Oliva.
10.00am
Parade of school children through the streets of Villverde

8.00pm
Gran Maraton de Murgas, ( All the music and dance groups participating in the Carnival)

Children’s groups.
The Gumbusitos, Chikirromois and Tictactitos from Puerto del Rosario, the Garabatos from Villaverde
Adult Groups
The Sargorias from Corralejo, The Serenquenes from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Los Quintillos and the Gambusinos from Puerto del Rosario.
Presenter:- Carmen Farina –
And finally; Leyenda Joven y Acuarela.

Saturday March 11

6.30pm
“Coso Carnavales” (Grand Carnival Parade)

This is the big event everyone is waiting for The Carnival Parade with floats, bands, dancers, Carnival Queens, drag queens, jugglers, drummers, and hundreds of participants in weird and wonderful costumes..
Parade starts from the roundabout at the bottom of the waterpark on the Main Street and takes about 2 hours to pass.
10.00pm
Music from the group Nuevo Klan.
Midnight -4.00am
Tribute concert to Elvis Crespo and continuing with the music of the Furia Joven Orchestra.

Sunday March 12

7:00pm
Funeral de la Señora Sardina (Funeral of Mrs Sardine)

The last event of Carnival is the  Funeral de la Señora Sardina. The procession starts from the Carnival Stage and makes its way to Town Beach at the old harbour as it accompanies a giant effigy of a Sardine. The locals dress in black funeral garb, the women veiled,  carry candles, as a drum beats a slow funeral march.
When we arrive at the old harbour there are a few speeches thanking Mrs Sardine for the bounty of her children. The effigy is then set on fire and we say goodbye to Mdm Sardina for another year. The funeral is finished with a spectacular fireworks display from the beach.

This year should be a bit special, as it is the first Carnival since 2019 with no restrictions. There will also be various unofficial side events taking place around town, I will publish these when I know what and where.

Carnival is a great time for kids, lots of the shops will be selling fancy dress outfits and masks etc so they can join in the fun.

Have a Happy Carnival.