La Orotava's Coso Apoteosis Draws Over 20,000
La Orotava's recent Coso Apoteosis parade drew over 20,000 attendees, underscoring the vibrant and significant carnival celebrations in northern Tenerife.
La Orotava's recent Coso Apoteosis parade drew over 20,000 people, highlighting how lively and important carnival celebrations are in northern Tenerife. Held on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 17, the parade confirmed its place as a main event in the town's festive calendar, attracting a large audience along its route.
The parade, which ran from Cruz del Teide to Plaza de la Paz in El Calvario, featured more than fifty groups. These included murgas (singing groups) such as Virgueritos, Trinkosos, Pizzicatos, Las Deslenguadas, Las Oxidadas, Los Tiralenguas, Las Parlachinas, Los Ferrusquentos, Los Minivirgues, Menudos Irónicos, Los Tiralenguines, and Ferruquentitos. Comparsas (dance groups) also took part, including Carabao Wayana, K’Nadum, Ritmo del Viento, Ritmo Batukeiro, Los Villeros, Percusión Social Bloko, Batucada Tagoror Drums, and Batucada Barabere.
The colourful procession also included the Rondalla Volcanes del Teide, fanfares from Peña El Casco, Puerto de la Cruz, Santa Catalina, and Los Realejos, as well as choreographic groups like Wild Dance, WT Revolution Dance, Vicente Oramas Díaz, Buen Rollo, and Polmacarne. Hundreds of spontaneous attendees, groups with various themes, and decorated vehicles joined in. The adult queen, Bárbara Urimare Fajardo, and child queen, Aroa Pacheco Cabrera, rode on floats with their maids of honour and candidates. A disco bus closed the parade, followed by many young people. Local officials, including Mayor Francisco Linares and Festivities Councillor Alexis Pacheco, participated in the celebrations, dressed for the occasion alongside other town council members.
The festive day wasn't limited to the afternoon parade. In the morning, the area around the Plaza de la Constitución hosted the 53rd exhibition and tour of antique cars through the Orotava Valley, which also saw high participation. After the Coso finished, the party continued in the Plaza de la Constitución with an open-air dance (verbena) featuring the "La Maquinaria" orchestra. Meanwhile, Avenida de Canarias hosted a youth party with a mobile disco float.
The town's carnival celebrations are set to continue on Wednesday, February 18, with the traditional duel and burning of Crispín, marking the next event in the programme.