Alcalá's August Virgen de Candelaria fiesta, with the famous Toste Brothers fireworks

[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 August, therefore, on the final day of 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 have put on the exhibition now for over 80 years. The show normally starts at 10pm with a procession to the harbour carrying the venerated image of the Virgen, followed by the fireworks at midnight which always last for at least half an hour.

This year's fiesta is 10-17 August, and although the main visual spectacle will be at night on the 17th, 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. The council always asks people to share cars, or get to the town by taxi or bus, to avoid traffic congestion as much as possible.

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

[Nova]

Wow, not that same one come around again??? 

[Janet]

Yes, I don't know where this year has gone!!!

[Janet]

After a couple of people asked me to verify, I asked the council for confirmation of the dates, and they say that the official programme is still to be produced, but the dates they are working on at the moment is 13 to 17 August, 5 days, rather than the 7 normal.

They say there'll be an official programme in due course. HOWEVER the famous firework display will take place as traditional on the 15th at midnight, not the final day, the 17th, as originally posted. I've edited the main post on my website but wanted to put the correction here too.