Alejandro Marichal: "We want the youngest children to also be the protagonists of our carnival"
Yilenia Vega: “The event was very well received. It's the first of many editions.”
The Department of Events and Festivities of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council has marked a milestone in the 2026 Maspalomas International Carnival with the creation of the "Carnival March." This new initiative, designed specifically for the youngest residents of the municipality, brought together a total of 1.700 students from ten schools, ranging from preschool to sixth grade.
The event, conceived as an educational and recreational tool, wound its way through the streets from the Municipal Stadium to San Fernando Square with the aim of promoting values such as respect for diversity, teamwork, and emotional development through the cultural identity of Carnival. The festive day, which began at 09:30 a.m., transformed the urban environment into a vibrant parade filled with music, jugglers, percussion groups, and surprises. The parade featured two floats from "José Halcón," as well as stilt walkers and clowns from Dlokos Art.
Upon arriving at the San Fernando church square, the children enjoyed breakfast before a show on the main stage, featuring performances by Mister Gas and Andrea from Sunom Circ. The event concluded around 12:30 pm, establishing a carnival activity outside the usual tourist area.
The First Deputy Mayor, Alejandro Marichal, was present during the parade and emphasized the importance of creating spaces where children are the central focus of the celebrations. Marichal congratulated the Department of Events and Festivities for bringing this project to fruition, noting that, as with the now well-established Children's Parade, this march allows "the youngest members of the family to be the absolute stars" of the festivities. According to the councilor, these initiatives reinforce the municipality's commitment to local families, ensuring that the Maspalomas Carnival is an inclusive celebration that goes beyond simply offering leisure activities for visitors.
For her part, the Councilor for Tourism, Events, and Festivities, Yilenia Vega, expressed her satisfaction with the reception of this first edition, describing it as an activity that "has been very well received" by the educational community. Vega emphasized that her department's aim is to ensure the continuity of this march, with the ambition that all the schools in the municipality will participate in the future, since some were unable to attend this time due to conflicts with other activities already scheduled at their schools. "The idea is to continue increasing participation; this is the first of many more editions," the councilor stated, insisting that these early experiences guarantee the survival of popular traditions.
