The Fiesta de la Lana de Caideros, declared a Festival of Tourist Interest of the Canary Islands, celebrated its thirtieth edition on May 30th, coinciding with Canary Islands Day. The event drew thousands of attendees to the Caideros area in Gáldar, to commemorate and highlight the customs, folklore, gastronomy, and ancestral traditions of the archipelago, with a special focus on the unique way of life in the Altos de Gáldar.
Jointly organized by the Culture and Festivals Department of the Gáldar City Council, led by Julio Mateo Castillo, and the Montaña el Agua Cultural Association, presided over by José Mendoza, popularly known as Pepe Torres, the festival aims to revive ancient trades such as transhumance, artisanal cheese making, and various wool processing techniques passed down through generations.
The day began early with the arrival of over a hundred Canarian breed sheep from the Medina Moreno family, originating from El Cortijo Los Nogales, to the old football field in Caideros. There, the traditional 'trasquilá' (shearing) took place, recreating the custom of collaboration among shepherd families from across the island, an emblematic image of this trade.
During the event, the Gáldar City Council inaugurated a new mural by artist Richard Santana, symbolizing the celebration's roots with representations of a sheep and a goat. Attendees could closely observe the artisanal wool process, from washing and carding to weaving on looms, and enjoy exhibitions of shepherd's leaps, Canarian wrestling, and garrote.
One of the main attractions was the exhibition 'Las huellas del queso. Quesografías y Yesografías. Sobreimpresiones del mundo rural' by Paco López, organized by the Tourism Department of the Gáldar City Council with the support of Turismo de Gran Canaria. The exhibition offers a contemporary interpretation of Canarian material culture through cheese molds.
On the main square's stage, tributes were paid to shepherds Antonio and Sara Moreno Mendoza for their lifelong dedication to sheep farming and cheese production, and to Miguel Hidalgo, a councilor of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, for his defense of rural life and tradition. The mayor of Gáldar, Teodoro Sosa, highlighted the shepherds' role as protagonists and the importance of maintaining the only transhumance route in the Canary Islands.
Mayor Teodoro Sosa praised the festival's longevity, thanking residents like Pepe Torres, recently named an Adopted Son of Gáldar, and the approximately 700 residents who protect the island's roots. In recognition, Miguel Hidalgo was named Honorary Godfather of the Fiesta de la Lana, expressing his gratitude for the honor and the work in defending Canarian identity.
The musical program featured performances by Los Sabandeños, celebrating their 60-year history, La Trova, and Los Faycanes, who filled the San José de Caideros square with Canarian music and folklore, earning enthusiastic applause and audience participation.
