One of the best ways to experience the true Gran Canaria is to take part in the annual carnival that started this year on the 26th January 2010.

For the locals this is pretty much the highlight of the year and a three week period when all kinds of festivities take place. We don't have carnivals of this nature in the UK and it's doubtful that anyone would the have the appetite for such a large celebration so soon after Christmas and the New Year. However in Spain, Christmas is a much lower key event, without all the big build up and overt commercialism that we experience in the UK. That means there is plenty of energy and enthusiasm left for the annual Carnival.

On Gran Canaria there are two main carnivals, one in Maspalomas during March and the bigger event in Las Palmas, that starts in late January and continues through most of February this year. In Gran Canaria the public vote not just for a Carnival Queen but also for a children's carnival queen and a seniors carnival queen. The queens don't stop there, because they also nominate a Drag Carnival Queen, a title that seems to be increasing in stature every year. There was a time when dressing as the opposite sex was banned in Spain, but all that is long forgotten and the drag carnival element forms an increasingly popular part of the celebrations.

In addition to the main Gala night of February 5th this year there is also a Drag Queen Gala on February 12th. You only have to look back at some of the images from the carnivals of previous years to see the scale and how spectacular the Las Palmas event is set to be. The Great Carnival parade takes place this year on Saturday 13th February.

Flights to Gran Canaria by flythomascook.com operate from 10 UK airports during January and February including London Gatwick, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester.