Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 18 February, 2020.— Once upon a time at Carnival... with a very special section in its schedule. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria's grand winter fiesta has the big weekend underlined in red on its calendar, stretching from Friday 21 to Tuesday 25 February (Carnival Tuesday, which is a bank holiday). The grand galas (Queen and Drag Queen) are packed into those dates, lively days of celebration in the daytime and more concerts in the Carnival nights, the junior celebrations in Triana and the parade in Las Canteras. The city lives and breathes the Carnival of children's stories, and visitors can enjoy this atmosphere in the main settings in the middle of the city... and at any time.

To begin with, on Friday 21, the Carnival chooses its Queen (21.00 hrs), in an event to be broadcast internationally by RTVE, Televisión Canaria and the Carnival's profiles on the social networks (@lpacarnival). Tickets for this event normally sell out (like those for the Drag nights, sold at entradas.laprovincia.es and at the Santa Catalina Park ticket office). But to be in Santa Catalina Park, even outside the stage enclosure, is always a very special experience: to breathe in the pure Carnival atmosphere... and the partying continues through the night with concerts in the leisure zone located next to the Cruise Ship Dock.

On Saturday 22, those travelling with children can go to the historic Calle Mayor in Triana (from 12 noon onwards) and to the Las Canteras Beach (from 17.00 hrs onwards) to discover the animated staging of Carnival in the street, suitable for all ages.

And, that night, from 21.00 hrs onwards, the Drag Queen Shortlisting will take place, with 29 drag queens competing to be among the 16 finalists who will be the stars of the grand gala on Monday 24 (21.00 hrs). This Shortlisting, which fills the park with advance sale ticket-holders, is not broadcast. Images of the event are not published either: the participants want to keep their show secret, to maintain the surprise for the television broadcast of the final: once again RTVE broadcasting internationally, Televisión Canaria and the social network profiles of @lpacarnival.

Alongside all of this, this Saturday the Santa Catalina setting keeps the party going with a unique Cock Fight (Carnaval Red Bull), where national rappers compete in an atmosphere both youthful and lively, all taking place in the leisure zone (from 22.30 hrs onwards).

On Sunday 23, Santa Catalina doesn't take a rest, and the morning sees the celebration of its junior murga (carnival street bands) encounters, and the daytime concerts, until the time comes for the grand Junior Parade. From 17.00 hrs onwards, from León y Castillo Street where it passes by the Metropole Swimming Club, all the way to Santa Catalina Park again with a grand party for the little ones as the climax of the day. It is, without a doubt, a Sunday worth enjoying as a family.

Monday is Drag Queen night as we said, although beforehand, in and around Vegueta and the course of the Guiniguada Ravine, which marks off the original city, there is a Traditional Carnival celebration: a homage to the Canary Island immigrants who returned from America, dressed in white and welcomed with a cloud of talcum powder. It's best to go well equipped, because the atmosphere is always loaded... with white smoke that points to where the fun is going on.

Finally, on Carnival Tuesday, Santa Catalina has concerts and daytime Carnival celebrations again, until evening comes: Juanes' concert is scheduled for 18.00 hrs. He's the international star of these fiestas and the crowning touch to these non-stop Carnival days.