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When you feel you have been too hard on yourself and looking for a holiday to release that long built tension, this fiesta will be a good opportunity to let your hair down and mingle with the fun and life-loving locals of Lanzarote.

Among the various festivals held in Arrecife during summer, Nuestra Senora del Carmen is the most celebrated and the most visited event. This colourful festival lightens up the whole Lanzarote Island during this season. It usually takes place on the 16th of July in several towns around Lanzarote and could last for about 10 days. The notable towns are Teguise, Tias, Playa Blanca, Marbella, Nerja, Tabarca, Chamberi and Malaga district.

Nuestra Senora del Carmen is one of the biggest traditional festivals in Lanzarote with a religious connotation. The festival is dedicated to Saint Carmen, the patron saint, for her protection and blessing over the fishermen. The history of this fiesta can be traced back to the 18th century in Haifa town in Israel where the origin of the Carmen cult started.

The main attraction of this event is the maritime street procession from the church with the effigy of Saint Carmen to the water's edge. Here, the effigy is placed on a flotilla surrounded by a procession of other brightly decorated boats with wreathes of flowers. The effigy is escorted out to the sea where the annual blessing for the fishermen will be delivered for a bountiful catch during the year. This is followed by a huge feast, music, folklore dancing and fireworks which usually last till the end of the festival.

Be prepared to taste some of the most exquisite cuisines of Lanzarote and some nibbly-bits served at the festivals. Famous dishes such as tapas and paella are widely available during this event and best consumed with with beer.

This festival is always a blast and worth a visit. To be a present at this festival, you need to start booking your flights to Lanzarote now.