Puerto del Carmen Carnival

We’ve been coming here now once, maybe twice, a year for about ten years. We always come over the winter months and we always seemed to miss the carnival and St Patrick’s Day. I suppose mainly because we had to be back at work at the end of February after having winter off. I’d always wanted to see the carnival, one year we missed it by just a couple of days.

Last year we got to see the St. Patrick’s Day carnival and were a little disappointed. I think local authorities took over the shenanigans and the masses rebelled. The best part of the parade last year was watching as the resort turned green and holiday makers dressed up. This year we missed St. Patrick’s Day but we did get to see the Puerto del Carmen carnival. It falls on the weekend after Shrove Tuesday so the date changes annually.

After watching the St. Patrick’s day parade I didn’t hold out much hope for the entertainment value but boy was I wrong.

We plonked ourselves on a bench along the strip waiting. Lots of other people had the same idea and soon the streets were lined with holidaymakers. Again, lots had chosen to dress up for the occasion. This year the theme was Alice in Wonderland and whilst I didn’t really spot much in the way of reference to it in the carnival the public didn’t let the theme down. Some of the public costumes certainly made you smile.

The Puerto del Carmen Carnival is one of Lanzarote’s most anticipated events, bringing both locals and holidaymakers into a celebration of music, dance, and costumes. In 2025, the parade took place this year on the 8th March. 22 floats and 21 carnival groups paraded along the Avenida de las Playas. The parade was amazing showing the community spirit of Puerto del Carmen. 

We found it hard to believe that so many people actually live here. The parade went on for 2 hours and wasn’t only enjoyed by holidaymakers but locals alike.

The costumes were amazing. So much work must have gone into making them. Sewing sequins and feathers to skimpy looking costumes. The choreography of the dancing, the drum bands all must have taken many hours of practice. Men, women and children all joined in the fun. Some of the men seeming to enjoy themselves more than anyone.

For anyone interested in attending this annual spectacle, I highly recommend it. It certainly lifted the spirits of everyone involved and spectators.