On the night of last Friday, the José Ramírez Cerdá park in Arrecife became the epicentre of tradition and popular sentiment with the celebration of the XXXI San Ginés Folkloric Festival, a must-attend event within the patron saint festivities in honour of San Ginés. The festival brought together three prominent folk groups from the Canary Islands, who, through their songs and dances, provided the audience with an emotional journey through the cultural richness of the archipelago.
The festival began with a performance by the San Cristóbal Folkloric Group, based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and founded in 1963. With over six decades of experience, this ensemble showcased a carefully selected array of pieces representative of Gran Canaria’s folklore, conveying the island’s essence with each note. The power of their voices and the energy of their dances marked a vibrant start to the evening.
Next was the turn of the Princesa Iraya Folkloric Group, hailing from San Bartolomé de Geneto in La Laguna (Tenerife), established in 1982. With a sober yet elegant presentation, the members of this group offered a repertoire true to Tenerife’s traditions, connecting with the audience through melodies and dances passed down through generations.
The closing act of this edition of the festival featured the host group, the Arrecife Choirs and Dances Group, founded in 1958. With a history of 67 years representing Arrecife, Lanzarote, and the Canary Islands on stages worldwide, the group once again demonstrated why it is an undisputed benchmark of island folklore. For this special night, they invited the young soloist Alberto José Betancort Ramos, a native of Los Valles, who captivated the audience with his powerful and clear voice, confirming his promising future within the Lanzarote folk scene.
Coros y Danzas Arrecife delivered a heartfelt performance, interpreting the most traditional songs and dances of Lanzarote, earning applause from an audience that packed the venue and enthusiastically enjoyed each of the groups’ contributions to the festival.
The XXXI San Ginés Folkloric Festival was made possible through the organisation of the Festivals Department of the Arrecife Town Hall, under the direction of Councillor Echedey Eugenio, and with the collaboration of the Arrecife Choirs and Dances Group, which once again demonstrated its commitment to preserving and promoting Canary Island cultural heritage.
An unforgettable night where folklore took centre stage, uniting islands, generations, and emotions in honour of Patron Saint San Ginés.
