San Bartolomé fills the streets with its Romería

On Friday San Bartolomé held the most anticipated event of its patron saint festivities: the Romería Popular. Hundreds of people, residents and visitors alike, followed the procession — the moment when the town looks at itself.

The route set off from the football ground and ran through calle Sereno, Rubicón, Calderetas and Párroco San Martín before reaching Plaza León y Castillo. Along the way: romeros, parrandas, decorated floats and groups in traditional Canarian dress — the scene photographers wait for all year.

As the procession arrived, the celebration carried on with the Baile del Romero, with music from Lanzarote Swing and Borrón y Cuenta Nueva. Then came the verbena at Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente park, where Tremendo Son, Mambo Latino and DJ Javi Fajardo stretched the night out.

Mayor Isidro Pérez underlined what the day is for: the romería is not an item on a programme, it is the moment a town recognises itself in its own roots. This year's turnout proved his point.

For anyone who missed it: San Bartolomé's patron saint festivities are one of the best chances all summer to see Canarian folk tradition in the street rather than on a stage — worth marking a year ahead.