San Andrés Festivals Return with Wine, Tapas, and Traditional "Arrastre" Event
Icod de los Vinos prepares to celebrate its traditional San Andrés Festivals from November 28th to 30th, featuring a wine festival with local wineries and restaurants, the unique "arrastre" board-sliding event, and a symbolic toast to the new wine harvest.
This year's San Andrés Wine Festival features twelve wineries from across the island, along with eleven local restaurants offering tapas. Hospitality students from IES San Marcos will be serving the food. Mayor Javier Sierra announced this yesterday during the official presentation of the festival's program and poster, designed by Damiroal. The San Andrés Festivals are a unique and eagerly awaited tradition in the North of Tenerife.
The "arrastre," or dragging event, will happen on November 28th, 29th, and 30th. Over 30,000 people are expected to attend this special celebration of tradition, wine, and local culture. For three days, brave participants will slide down the steep streets of El Plano, San Antonio, and Hércules on boards, a custom that harks back to the old woodworking and cooperage trades.
The mayor, joined by Tourism Councilor Gerardo Rizo and Festivals Councilor Cathaysa Concepción, confirmed that the first bottle of wine from the new harvest will be officially opened on Thursday the 28th at 9:00 PM in Plaza Andrés de Lorenzo Cáceres. This symbolic toast will be broadcast live across the Canary Islands on Televisión Canaria's program "Una hora menos," connecting all eight islands under the banner of Icod de los Vinos.
The following day, starting at 7:00 PM, Calle San Agustín will host the popular Wine Festival, with music, tapas, and wineries from Tenerife. On Saturday the 30th, at 6:00 PM, the Battle of Polkas will take place in Plaza Andrés de Lorenzo Cáceres, marking the end of three days of tradition. A new feature this year is that this event will run at the same time as other activities.
The City Council has launched a major promotional campaign for this year's event. The official image of the San Andrés boards will be displayed on Tenerife's trams, billboards along the TF-5 highway, at the exit of Tenerife North Airport, on digital screens within the airport, and in Binter Canarias' NT magazine.
The mayor of Icod highlighted that "San Andrés is the identity of our city. That's why Icod de los Vinos once again opens its streets and wineries to everyone in the Canary Islands, so we can celebrate our heritage together."