The Department of Festivals and Culture of the San Sebastián de La Gomera City Council is launching the October 2026 Festivals program with a varied cultural offering. The schedule includes the presentation of the book “Gomer@s. Biographical Notes of the Island of La Gomera” by Roberto Padrón; the announcement of the jury's verdict for the V Félix Casanova de Ayala Literary Contest; a conference by historian Carlos Benítez; and a tribute to the Punteo Gomero.
Roberto Padrón will present his work “Gomer@s. Biographical Notes of the Island of La Gomera”, a compilation of biographies of significant figures in the island's history from the 15th century to the present day. The author describes the book as a "living tribute and a thorough exploration of the soul of La Gomera through the lives of its inhabitants".
The book presentation will take place on October 1st, at 6:00 PM, in the City Council's Plenary Hall. Padrón will explain the creative process, research, and documentation undertaken to recover the history of "illustrious figures" and "people whose daily existence shaped the character of this land".
Roberto Padrón Velázquez, born in 1972, comes from a family with deep roots in La Gomera and has been linked to the island's cultural and social life. He has been part of collectives such as the Tagaragunche Association and the rock group Tonelada, actively contributing to the promotion of Gomera's popular culture.
The cultural program will continue on Friday, October 2nd. At 6:30 PM, the Plenary Hall will host the event where the jury's verdict for the fifth edition of the Félix Casanova de Ayala Literary Contest, in the poetry and short story categories, will be announced.
Following this, history graduate Carlos Benítez Izquierdo will deliver a lecture focusing on the 120th anniversary of King Alfonso XIII's royal visit to the island of La Gomera.
To conclude the day, Plaza de Las Américas will host, starting at 8:30 PM, a tribute to the Punteo Gomero. The performance will be by Emilio Negrín and the San Sebastián Music School Band, with Elías García and Leticia Simancas as guest artists.
