Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Launch Expanded Christmas Lighting Display on November 19

Santa Cruz de Tenerife will officially kick off the festive season on November 19 with its annual Christmas lighting display. Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez is set to flip the switch at Plaza de La Candelaria at 7:30 p.m., following an opening musical performance.

This year, the city is significantly expanding its decorations. With a budget of 6.4 million euros approved in June, the City Council is extending the lights to 600 locations across all five districts—an increase of 200 sites from last year. New areas, including Avenida Pedro Schwartz, Rambla García Escámez, and parts of Añaza and the Southwest, will be included in the display.

Public Services Councilor Carlos Tarife noted that the project requires months of planning, with installation work beginning as early as August. A highlight of the display will be the giant fir tree in the Plaza de España lake, which the council aims to make even taller than last year’s 30-meter version.

Javier Caraballero, the head of the Department of Festivities, confirmed that a concert will follow the lighting ceremony, though the lineup of artists has yet to be announced. While the event is typically held on a Thursday, it has been moved to a Tuesday this year to better manage the logistics of the setup.

Beyond tradition, the city views the lighting as a key way to boost local commerce during the final months of the year. The project, which covers both the Christmas season and the upcoming Carnival, highlights the technical effort required to illuminate the city’s main streets and green spaces.