The historic centre of Agüimes is decked out to celebrate, as every year at this time, its patron saint festivities in honour of the Virgen del Rosario, co-patron saint and perpetual mayor of the municipality.
The scheduled events will start on Friday, September 19th, with a themed evening of boleros and rancheras in the Plaza del Rosario. The following day, this same venue will host the traditional Millo Hill Climb. The event, now in its twentieth year, will bring together locals and visitors around traditional games, a pineapple roast, and a tasting of Agüimes black pig, in a festive atmosphere where people are encouraged to come in traditional Canarian attire.
The cultural, recreational, and sports program will run until October 12, with activities for all audiences. Highlights include the 48th annual Traída del Gofio y del Agua (Gofio and Water Festival) on Saturday, September 27, which, accompanied by street parties and musical performances, will fill the streets of the city centre with music, colour, and tradition. The following day, the election of the Romera and the Romero Mayor will be held, along with concerts by José Manuel Ramos, and Fabiola Socas, and by Luis Villa.
Young audiences will have their space with Youth Night on Friday, October 3, with performances by Yet Garbey, Tutto Durán, and DJ Antonio Boada in the Plaza del Rosario. That same weekend, on Saturday, October 4, the grand Romería Ofrenda (Pilgrimage of Offering) will take place in honor of the Virgin of the Rosary, followed by a lively taifa dance with traditional parrandas and a street party featuring Mekánica by Tamarindos, Línea DJ, and Grupo Arena.
The program also includes sporting and other popular activities, such as a livestock fair, a club-fighting championship, competitions, exhibitions, and tastings. In addition, on Sunday, October 5th, the Encuentro en el Casco (Meeting in the Old Town) will take place, featuring a performance by the Agüimes Municipal Band, comedy by Kike Pérez, dessert tasting, a flower battle, and the “Mujeres D” (Women of the Year) concert. The festivities conclude on October 12th with the celebration of International Agriculture and Livestock Day, which revives traditions such as sheep shearing, a cheese-making workshop, and threshing, in a tribute to the municipality’s rural roots.
Highlights:
Saturday 20 September:
17:00 20º Subida del Millo. Plaza del Rosario.
The first of the popular gatherings for these festivities will take place this Saturday, where young and old will meet to remember the old work of the fields. They will strip and shell the corn to later take the grain to the mills of Lolita and Ananías, on the way to Guayadeque, remembering the task that families of yesteryear carried out when they wanted to transform the millet they harvested into gofio.
20:30 Traditional games, corn barbeque, and tasting of local black pig Juegos tradicionales, asadero de piñas y degustación de cochino negro de Agüimes.
Friday 26 September:
18:00 Zanga tournament at Plaza del Rosario.
21:00 8 Décadas concert in the Auditorium.
23:00 Los Lola, DJ Ulises Acosta concert at Plaza Teatro Auditorio.
Saturday 27 September: 48º Traída del Gofio y del Agua
19:00 Bringing the Gofio and Water procession, accompanied by Banda Isleña. (This is going to get messy with gofio flower being thrown around!)
The millo, now made into gofio, will now return to the town with the celebration of the 47th edition of the Traída del Gofio y del Agua. Hundreds of people will once again gather to make the journey from the Lolita and Ananías mills to the historic centre. Due to its uniqueness, the Traída is always the most eagerly awaited event of these festivities, declared of National Tourist Interest.
21:30 Verbena, lively street party with Son de la Isla, Star Music, Mallombe and DJ Promaster.
Sunday 28 September:
11:00 Play area for kids at Plaza del Rosario.
20:00 Election Gala of Romera and Romero.
Saturday 4 October:
18:00 Romería, pilgrimage offering from Municipal swimming pool to the Plaza.
22:30 Baile de taifas at Plaza de San Antón (canarian music).
22:30 Verbena, a lively street party at Palza de Rosario.
Sunday 5 October:
10:00 livestock exhibition next to the Plaza Teatro Auditorio.
10:00 Canarian stick fighting competition .
17:00 Municipal music band concert at Plaza de Rosario .
17:00 tasting of dessert.
19:00 Batalla de flores.
20:00 Concert by ‘Mujeres D’.
