San Cristóbal de La Laguna has presented its complete program for the Festivals in honor of San Benito Abad, a celebration with deep roots and tradition in the municipality. This year, the event will include over 40 proposals for all ages and will feature Tenerife as the honored island, highlighting its folklore and traditions.
The official presentation took place at the former convent of Santo Domingo, with the participation of the mayor, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez; the Councilor for Festivals, Dailos González; and researcher Julio Torres. The event was accompanied musically by the quartet Raíz Lagunera.
Luis Yeray Gutiérrez highlighted the excitement these festivals generate, recalling the agricultural and livestock tradition and the intergenerational legacy. He emphasized the spirit of the program and the Regional Romería on July 12th, unique in the Canary Islands with this title, which this year will pay tribute to San Cristóbal, the town's patron saint.
The mayor announced that the romería will feature nearly 40 groups and around 80 carts, surpassing previous editions. Additionally, over 650 tables will be available for the Baile de Magos on Friday, July 10th.
Dailos González, Councilor for Festivals, emphasized that the festivities, now in their 80th year, honor roots and collective identity. The tribute to Tenerife strengthens ties with the rest of the island, consolidating the event as one of the most important in the archipelago.
The opening speech, by Chago Melián, will mark the official start on Wednesday, July 1st. Also noteworthy are the election galas for Romera Mayor, Infantil, and Mayores at the Teatro Leal this weekend.
On July 9th, the group Achamán will celebrate its 50th anniversary with the show 'Alma y fuego'. The following day, the Baile de Magos will take place in the historic center. On Saturday the 11th, the Baile de Magos Infantil and the traditional romero walk for seniors will be held, followed by the Festival 8 Islas, which will bring together popular Canarian culture groups.
Julio Torres, designer of the program and poster, thanked the City Council for their trust. This year's poster recreates the 1905 procession, reviving a historical episode of devotion to the saint's image.
The poster, created by Julio Torres and poster artist Juan Cairós, depicts the old procession from the church of La Concepción, when the hermitage of San Benito was ceded to the Army.
Historical documents from 1635 preserved in the Municipal Archive of La Laguna indicate that dancers with drums participated in various festive events in the municipality as early as those dates.
