Arrecife hosts the 32nd San Gines Folk Festival at Parque Ramirez Cerda

Parque José Ramírez Cerdá was once again the centre of Canarian folk music in Arrecife with the 32nd San Ginés Folk Festival, one of the longest-running events on the programme of the capital's patron saint celebrations. Groups from three islands shared the stage before a large audience.

Hosting duties fell to the Agrupación Folklórica Coros y Danzas Arrecife, joined by Maxorata from Fuerteventura and Tajaraste from Tenerife. They were accompanied by 12 soloists representing the twelve folk groups active on Lanzarote, who opened the evening with a joint performance bringing their voices together before each ensemble took its turn.

Earlier in the evening, the Kiosco de la Música hosted the presentation of commemorative plaques, a gesture of thanks to everyone involved in staging the festival.

The narrative thread was in the hands of Gran Canaria actors Jenifer Artiles and Isaac Dos Santos, together with Lanzarote's Mario Oses. The three took the audience on a journey through the islands using an old suitcase filled with objects representing each territory. Fuerteventura, Tenerife and Lanzarote appeared one after another through this device, introducing the performances by Maxorata, Tajaraste and Coros y Danzas Arrecife in a staging that combined music, tradition and storytelling.

Deputy mayor and councillor for festivities Echedey Eugenio thanked Coros y Danzas Arrecife for "the excellent organisation of this event, which once again has helped to preserve and enhance the cultural heritage of the Canary Islands". He also praised the staging by the groups and soloists and the involvement of the large crowd, stressing the importance of keeping an event focused on the archipelago's traditions and identity within the San Ginés festivities.

Why folk music still anchors the San Ginés fiestas

For visitors, this is one of the clearest windows onto living Canarian tradition. What is heard on stage is not a shortened version arranged for hotel entertainment: the repertoire comes from local music schools, singing workshops and archives passed down through generations, and the twelve island groups rarely appear on the same bill. The park sits a short walk from the Charco de San Ginés, in the heart of Arrecife, and seating fills up well before the start, so arriving early is advisable. Performances run late into the evening, in line with local habits during August.