The largest, loudest, most dazzeling and spectacular carnival on Tenerife takes place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife each year.
As with all the parties in Spain and the Canary Islands the local population spent months getting ready for the festival which is held the week before Ash Wednesday each year.
The crowning of the Carnival Queen kicks the festival off and this is followed by a large horse parade which involves a great number of especially dressed and prepared horses.
This busy weekend usually ends up as one large street party with loud music and dancing lasting well into the night.
One of the stranger aspects of the Carnival its the large cross dressing theme. Nearly everyone involved is dressed as a member of the opposite sex!
The festival ends with the ritual of Entierro de la Sardina or the Buriel of the Sardine.
This involves the carnival buring a large paper maiche model of a sardine. You will probably be glad of the party ending by this event which takes place on Shrove Tuesday.
You can find out a whole lot more about the carnival including the diary of events, how to get there and where to stay at Carnivals in Tenerife website.
