Yilenia Vega: “We are recovering the soul of these festivities, reinforcing those traditions that are part of the collective memory and bringing them closer to new generations as well.”
The Department of Festivals and Events of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council presented the program for the 2026 San Fernando Patron Saint Festival this Friday. This year's edition is dedicated to "Roots and Traditions" and recovers part of the historical and community essence of celebrations deeply linked to the municipality's identity. The event was presided over by Marco Aurelio Pérez, the mayor of the municipality, and the Councilor for Festivals and Events, Yilenia Vega.
During the presentation, it was explained that the festivities will be held from May 21 to 31 with a program that combines tradition, popular music, folklore, neighborhood gatherings, children's activities and proposals aimed at all audiences, consolidating San Fernando as one of the great festive meeting points in the south of Gran Canaria.
During the presentation, Yilenia Vega emphasized that this year's edition "returns to highlight what defines us as a community: our roots, our traditions, and the pride of keeping alive an identity that has been passed down from generation to generation." The councilwoman also noted that the governing group's objective has been "to recapture the spirit of these festivities, reinforcing those traditions that form part of San Fernando's collective memory and bringing them closer to new generations."
One of the most symbolic events of this year's festivities will be the return of the traditional procession from the Hermitage of San Fernando El Chico to the parish church. This procession, which has been absent from the celebrations for years, will be held again on Friday, May 29th, following the Mass at the old hermitage. This event will bring back to the festivities one of the most cherished traditions, deeply connected to the history and origins of the town of San Fernando. “We are reviving one of the most moving traditions, one that is deeply rooted in the origins of our town. The return of San Fernando El Chico from the hermitage represents the recovery of an image profoundly linked to the history and memories of many generations of residents,” stated Vega.
For his part, Mayor Marco Aurelio Pérez emphasized that the festivities “continue to be the great festive meeting place for people from all over the South,” also highlighting the historical and social value of celebrations that “keep alive the memory of an agricultural, seafaring and sharecropping San Fernando that has known how to evolve without losing its roots.”
The mayor also highlighted the community's involvement in this year's festivities and the revival of local traditions, such as the decoration of facades in the village of San Fernando. "A saint, a road, and a village perfectly symbolize the spirit of these celebrations and the collective feeling they represent for entire generations of residents," he noted.
The program will kick off on Thursday, May 21st, with the opening address by Paula Rodríguez Artiles, a figure closely linked to the social and educational history of the municipality. The first educator at the Los Dados nursery and a role model for many families in San Fernando, she will officially inaugurate the festivities, accompanied by performances from Umiaya and La Banda Sol y Arena.
“Paula represents an entire generation of women who helped build this town through care, education, and affection. Her opening speech will also be a tribute to all those hardworking families who made San Fernando grow,” the councilwoman emphasized.
The town crier, present at the press conference, thanked the Department of Festivities and Events "for the opportunity and the honor of being the town crier for these festivities, something I will always carry in my heart with great affection."
Among the most notable new features of this edition is also the first Children's Pilgrimage Offering for schoolchildren, scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, an initiative created to bring popular traditions closer to new generations.
“We want children to know and feel these traditions as something of their own. Only what is passed down from childhood manages to stay alive over time,” Vega explained.
The festive program also includes some of the most anticipated events for locals and visitors, such as the Masparranda on Friday, May 22nd, with performances by Las Dunas del Sur, Parranda El Cañizo and Bejeque; the Youth Night; the Pilgrimage Offering on Saturday the 23rd; or the great popular open-air dances of the weekend with artists and groups such as Yo Marc Tribute to Marc Anthony, Star Music, Ritmo Bakano, DJ Jonay, Leyenda Joven, DJ Yunes or DJ Ardy.
Also returning are traditional events deeply rooted in the patron saint festivities such as the fish barbecue on Canary Islands Day, the Maspalomas Regional Folklore Festival, exhibitions of traditional Canarian games, the domino tournament, the zanga tournament, and the children's and family activities organized throughout the week.
In the religious section, the events will culminate on May 30 with the Solemn Eucharist and the procession of Saint Ferdinand and the Virgin of Carmen through the usual streets of the municipality.
