500 kilos of gunpowder ready to be ignited for Alcalá fireworks spectacular tomorrow night

[Janet]

Apart from being the patron saint of Tenerife and of the town of Candelaria itself, the Virgen de Candelaria is also the patron saint of Alcalá on the west coast. Every year, therefore, on the 15th, the main day in the town's fiesta, there is a fireworks display that has become known as the place to see fireworks in south Tenerife. The fireworks are organized by the Los Realejos Toste brothers, who this year will be using 500 kilos of gunpowder to put on the exhibition which they have now been staging for around 80 years. As usual, the show will start at 10pm with a procession to the harbour carrying the venerated image of the Virgen, followed by the fireworks at midnight which will last for around half an hour,

Although the main visual spectacles will be at night, the whole day is a religious celebration, and events will start around 1pm with a flotilla of boats, one of which will be carrying the sacred statue, sailing in procession between Playa San Juan and Puerto de Santiago. They should return to Alcalá around 3.30pm. A crowd of thousands is expected to be there for the day, many of whom will sail later into the little bay in order to see the fireworks from the sea. As usual, the council has asked people to share cars, or get to the town by taxi or bus, to avoid traffic congestion as much as possible. JA

[Janet]

This is a short video, not even three minutes long, which should give an idea of how incredible this firework display is!

[Nova]

I must be getting old. I used to love fireworks but now all I see is money being blown up and think surely they must have better things to spend it on...?? 

[Janet]

Yes, agreed. The only thing Guía de Isora has in its favour in that regard is that it's the only Ayuntamiento, as far as I'm aware, in Tenerife that has managed to balance its budget. It doesn't have lifeguards unpaid, workers on strike, the social care is good ...

[Nova]

Then good show Guia 

Still burning money though 

[Janet]

well, yes, but this is a municipality that has wanted for some time to push its 5* luxury monied tourism ... can't do that without some decent marketing, and that involves showing the place as one that provides spectacular entertainment as a norm ... and that it can afford to do so ...

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

I see both sides of the argument.  I live in Guía too.  Don't know which side I fall on but intend to enjoy deciding.

[Janet]

good display again from Alcalá tonight!