Over 40 carts and 14 musical groups paraded through the streets of Gáldar to the front of the Templo Santuario to offer their products to the Patron Saint. The Traditional Romería Offering to Señor Santiago de Los Caballeros de Gáldar once again made the municipality the epicenter of Canarian tradition, customs, and local flavor. Thousands of people participated in this event, one of the main highlights of the 544th Fiestas Mayores de Santiago, featuring 41 carts and 14 musical groups, with the addition this year of a group from Murcia and the association of dancers from El Pinar de El Hierro.
Pilgrims, dressed in traditional Canarian attire, adorned their carts with palm fronds and local produce, accompanied by music from the groups and accompanying parrandas. The Municipal Corporation of Gáldar, led by its mayor Teodoro Sosa, welcomed the Municipal Corporation of Santa María de Guía, headed by its mayor Alfredo Gonçalves.
The Folklore Cultural Association Dancers “El Pinar” from El Hierro set the pace for the procession. Alongside both corporations, Aitana Rodríguez and Edgar Bolaños, Guayarmina and Bentejuí of the 2026 Fiestas Mayores de Santiago de Gáldar, along with their court of Tenesoyas and representatives from the municipality's neighborhoods, led the romería towards the decorated historic city center.
The procession offered moments for dancing, music, enjoying typical products, and celebrating a day where tradition, sentiment, and roots were the protagonists, in one of the island's most traditional and crowded romerías.
Upon arrival at the church, the parish rector Don Manuel Reyes Brito greeted the pilgrims with ringing bells. Each cart then proceeded to make its offering of non-perishable products, which will be distributed among less fortunate families.
The mayor of Gáldar, Teodoro Sosa, welcomed everyone, noting that "when this facade is adorned with the products of the land, with barely eight days left until the big day of Santiago, Gáldar smells of romería and here, after 544 years of devotion to our Santiago de los Caballeros, Gáldar pays homage once more. Long live Santiago de los Caballeros." Don Manuel Reyes, on behalf of Cáritas, expressed gratitude for the donations.
The Romería featured performances by folklore and musical groups including El Limonar de Murcia, Harimaguadas, Los Cebolleros, Acataifa, Facaracas, Noroeste Guiense, Aires del Norte, Surco y Arado, Estacato, and the parrandas Fagagesto, La Última y nos vamos, el Valle, and Atájale y nos vamos.
After the romería concluded, the music and festivities continued in designated streets, with the Baile de Taifa on the Plaza de Santiago stage, followed by sets from DJ Promaster and DJ Aythami.
The 544th Fiestas Mayores de Santiago are organized by the Culture and Festivals department of the Ayuntamiento de Gáldar, led by first deputy mayor Julio Mateo Castillo. The full program of events can be consulted at galdar.es and @ayuntamientodegaldar.
