La Orotava Postpones 'Baile de Magos' Due to Security Demands of Papal Visit

The La Orotava Patron Saint Festivities have faced a scheduling change due to a major regional security event. Following a meeting of the Joint Commission this Monday, officials announced that the "Baile de Magos" (Traditional Folk Dance), originally part of the May 15 to June 14 calendar, must be moved to a new date.

The city council, in agreement with local political and social groups, made this decision due to an unexpected staffing shortage. Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Tenerife on June 12, requiring the Civil Guard and Canary Islands Police to focus their resources on security for that state visit. As a result, there are not enough officers available to provide the necessary surveillance for the Baile de Magos.

Hosting this event, which typically draws over 30,000 people, requires a large security presence that goes beyond what local police and civil protection teams can provide on their own. Under current regulations for public gatherings, the city must ensure strict safety plans are in place, which rely on the availability of specialized crowd-control forces.

All other events in the festival program will proceed as planned. This change is strictly limited to the Baile de Magos to ensure that the event can be held with the required legal and safety guarantees, as it is not possible to manage the logistics of a large-scale local celebration alongside a major international visit.