Arrecife barbecues a big sardine tonight

Arrecife will celebrate its strangest carnival tradition tonight as it bids a sad farewell to a gigantic dead sardine.

The sardine is a large papier-mâché model which represents this year’s carnival, and dancers, drummers, singers and floats from Monday night’s huge parade will once again do their thing as they samba along the seafront from the Ayuntamiento on Avenida Vargas, beginning at 6 pm.

Bringing up the rear will be the sardine, mounted on a float which will be followed by scores of “widows” of both sexes, dressed in black and purple, waving handkerchiefs and wailing in grief.

The not-so-solemn funeral procession will end at Playa Reducto, where the sardine will be hoisted onto a bonfire and cremated, bringing Arrecife’s carnival to an end.

Many people prefer the sardine’s funeral to the big parade – it’s not quite as wild and crowded and it takes place along a much prettier route.   If you fancy going, buses run to the Interchange near Playa Reducto from where it’s 10-15 minutes’ walk. 

From Costa Teguise, the No. 3 bus will take you to the Interchange or get off the No. 1 bus at the Los Alonso stop, head down to the sea, turn right, cross the Charco and follow the drums – again about 15 minutes.