La Laguna Transforms Cemeteries Into Cultural Hubs for All Saints' Day
La Laguna is hosting a series of cultural events, musical performances, and historical talks across its cemeteries and community centers to commemorate All Saints' Day while preserving local Canarian heritage.
This year, La Laguna is transforming its cemeteries into spaces for culture and community. The local council has launched a new program for All Saints' Day, aiming to blend family traditions with art across the municipality’s five cemeteries: San Luis, San Juan Bautista, Valle de Guerra, Tejina, and Punta del Hidalgo.
Titled "By Candlelight," this initiative changes how the public interacts with these sites. On October 31, visitors can attend intimate piano and vocal recitals at 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. To accommodate the expected crowds, the council is extending opening hours at all locations and will feature performances by local bands.
The program also focuses on preserving Canarian heritage. Historian Néstor Verona is leading a series of talks on local oral traditions, superstitions, and beliefs surrounding death. These sessions, which include appearances by the Parranda El Abuelo and costume expert Dulce Rodríguez de la Rosa, will be held throughout November at the Santo Domingo convent, the Polvorín de Taco, the Tejina parish center, and the El Tranvía Citizen Center in La Cuesta.
For families, the Casa de Carta in Valle de Guerra will host "The Bridge of Memories" on October 30—a theatrical performance inspired by the aesthetics and storytelling of the Mexican Day of the Dead.
Religious traditions remain a key part of the commemoration. Masses will be held on November 1 and 2 at the cemeteries of Valle de Guerra, Tejina, Punta del Hidalgo, San Luis, and San Juan Bautista, honoring the customs that have long defined this holiday in the Canary Islands.