La Orotava Announces Sixth Edition of "Finados" Festival to Preserve Canarian Traditions
La Orotava City Council is hosting its sixth "Finados" festival from October 22 to 31, featuring academic lectures, theatrical performances, and guided cemetery tours to preserve traditional Canarian funerary heritage.
Preserving local history and funerary heritage has become a key part of the cultural scene in northern Tenerife. La Orotava City Council has announced the sixth edition of its "Finados" (All Souls') festival, running from October 22 to 31. The initiative aims to protect traditional island customs in the face of increasingly standardized modern celebrations.
The program blends academic talks with theatrical performances, using the municipal cemetery—a site of cultural interest since 2005—as a space for historical reflection. The events kick off on October 22 in the Plenary Hall with a lecture by Juanca Romero Hasmen on global transition rites. The schedule also includes two guided tours: one exploring the history of the cemetery with researcher José Maza, and another titled "La Orotava in Bone and Soul," led by Lhorsa. Both tours require advance booking via email at turismo@villadelaorotava.org.
Literature and theater are also central to this year’s festival. On October 28, Julio Concepción will present his work, Lucitas de Finados. The following day, the Victoria Gardens will host a performance of Don Juan Tenorio. The University of La Laguna’s Philology Theater Group will perform two free shows of this classic adaptation at 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Mayor Francisco Linares and Cultural Heritage head Delia Escobar emphasize that these events are about more than just entertainment. They represent a commitment to local identity, helping younger generations connect with the traditions that have long shaped how Canarian society views death. By making all events free, the council hopes to open these historic spaces to the public and weave funerary history into the everyday life of the community.