Top 25 Things to do in the Canaries

scuba diving lanzarote

1. Celebrate the Carnival. The dates vary from year to year, but it's usually in February or March. The most impressive fancy dress parades and processions of elaborately decorated floats can be found in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

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Gran Canaria Carnival Calendar 2012

comic book festival gran canaria

Comics will be the central theme of Gran Canaria's famous Carnival in 2012. If you want to see Spiderman, Cat Woman, The Joker and other superheroes in real life, hurry up and book your flights to Gran Canaria soon, as the carnival will take place from the 3rd to the 21st of February this year. In order to make the events more intense, the organisation has decided to host the festival for only 3 weeks rather than the usual 4. If you enjoy a good street party, you especially don't want to miss the Gran Cabalgata parades in Las Palmas. During the final weekend of the Carnival (18 and 19 February 2012), more than 200,000 Canarians in comic book costumes will dance to Latin music in the streets, covering a route of 7 kilometres from north to south.

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Greeks Say 'No Way' on Ochi Day

greek parade 28 october

On the 28th of October every year Greece celebrates the power of the negative. Military parades, coastal celebrations and special Greek Orthodox Services commemorate the day, in 1940, that Greek President Yanni Mextaxas declared 'Ochi!', 'No!' in Greek, and rejected Benito Mussolini's ultimatum that Greece be occupied by Axis forces or face war. Against all odds, and to their own amazement, the Greeks defeated advancing Italian troops, driving them back into Albania. Although Greece went on to be occupied by Germany, Greeks still celebrate Mextaxas' tenacity, their fierce resistance and unlikely victory with great pride.

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Teguise Carnival in Lanzarote

image of lanzarote

There is a vast amount of different festivals and events that take place within Lanzarote. One of the popular events within this area is Teguise Carnival and this event is popular with both locals and tourists alike. A lot of the tourists that enjoy taking part in this carnival use the regular flights to Lanzarote. This carnival normally takes place during February. This carnival usually starts with birth of the sardine and it finishes with either the burial or burning of the sardine. This carnival is actually very similar to the harvest festival. On the evening prior to the carnival parade there tends to be a band that are based on the back of an open lorry and they play to the crowds that gather to celebrate the start of the festivities. The start of these festivities is also marked by a torch light procession and this is normally held by German people although a wide range of people tend to take part in it.

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Puerto del Carmen Carnival in Lanzarote

image of lanzarote

The Puerto del Carmen Carnival is a time of revelry and riotous fun and this creates the perfect reason to escape the routine, which is normally followed on a daily basis. This is also a good time to get rid of the daily attire and enjoy some fun. There is a lot of tourists that make the most of the cheap flights to Lanzarote in order to take part in this carnival. This carnival normally starts on Shrove Tuesday. The things that happen as part of this festival varies depending on the individual municipalities, as the activities will vary based on their culture and heritage.

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Ibiza Carnival During February

image of ibiza

The carnival celebrations do not only take place within clubs as it also happens on the surrounding streets. One of the biggest things that take place is the massive street parade and this is very popular attraction. These parades and festivities tend to involve a lot of people from the GLBT community. It is true to say that these events are a lot of fun and they are also very colourful. All of these qualities mix together to create a very good atmosphere for a street party.

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Malta Birgufest

scene in malta

Birgu is one of the oldest communities in Malta with a rich past. Being situated at a strategic location in the Grand Harbor, it was considered an ideal location for military as well as maritime activities. Due to this the city remained under foreign control for quite some time in the history, with rulers ranging from the Phoenicians to Romans and Arabs to Aragonese. Reaching Birgu is quite simple by catching flights to Malta, as it is very close to the Malta International Airport.

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Ibiza Carnival Parade

image of ibiza waters

Ibiza is one of the most beautiful islands in Europe. It is also known as Eivissa Vila in Catalan. It forms a part of the 4 Balearic Islands. The densely forested Island with pine trees, towering cliffs, the neat and clean beaches and amazingly blue sea makes Ibiza a holiday destination of choice for many travelers.

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Alicante-St John's Bonfires

Sea view of alicante

Before 1928, the festival known as St Johns Bonfires was celebrated just as it was celebrated in any other part of Europe. The huge gathering of people coming together to burn things such as old furniture is quite a spectacle. But, during the same year, a man from Alicante called Jose Maraa Py improvised the idea of similar nature. In a short span of 3 months the first such Bonfire was planned and organized in Daa de San Juan.

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Crete Apokrias Carnival

docks of crete

Apokrias Carnival in Crete is celebrated to appease Dionysos, the God of Feast and Wine. Traditionally it is supposed to prepare the people for the 40 day fast or Lent, during which there is are no parties, weddings or celebrations of any kind. The carnival is held as a form of last time of celebration before Lent begins, when people are not allowed to have meat or drink wine. It is held over a period of three weeks filled with fun and festivities, more to compensate for the abstinence to be held during the 40 day fast.

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malta guide art holidays

Malta

For such a small country, the Mediterranean islands of Malta have a rich and vibrant history. With North African and Arabic influences, theres been an incredible mix of rulers and occupiers over the centuries, yet all of these markson this beautiful, sunny nation create something individual with a distinct andcharming character.

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fun and frolic at the zakynthos carnival

Aerial view on Zakynthos island Greece - Zante town

The Zakynthos Carnival is the annual carnival that happens once every year. This time it will happen in February 2011. The entire fun and frolic lasts for about 4 weeks but the major action happens in the last 2 weeks of the carnival where you will finds crowds gathering to watch the spirit of the carnival. This carnival takes its inspiration from the Venetian Carnival.

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Enjoy the luxuries of eventful Fuerteventura

rocky landscape of crete

On the island of Fuerteventura, there is no lack of festivities and celebrations. There calendar of events is extensive and even though most of the year has already passed, there are still many reasons for you to book flights to Fuerteventura today.

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Madeira Wine Festival

Fresh Colours of Grapes and Wine

For tourists who desire to experience a curious mix of culture, music, history, merry-making, and a hint of wordly sophistication, flights to Funchal this September will take you just in time to take part at the the Madeira Wine Festival.

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La Tomatina Festival in Spain

La Tomatina Festival, Spain

There is a week-long preparation that goes into the festival. Many shop owners cover their shops before hand with huge plastic covers as a protection from the mess. There are also few rules to adhere to. It a part of the rule to squash the tomatoes before hurling them at people. However, any objects other than tomatoes are not to be thrown!

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Viva Mexico!

Cancun beach

Grito de la Independencia is a cry from the heart and history of Mexico that stirs up the dirt and dust on the streets of Cancun the 15th of September. In 2010, it will be exactly 200 years ago that the Mexicans started their indepence war against Spain on the eve of 16th of September 1810 in a church chapel in Dolores Hidalgo, 270km (170 miles) north of Mexico City. This year, the cries 'Viva Mexico!' and 'Viva la independencia!'will be louder than ever before.

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San Gines festival in Arrecife

Charco de San Gines, city of Arrecife, Lanzarote.

Spain is famous for its all year round festivals. Though most of them are religiously inclined, they are nevertheless enjoyed by all kinds of people, which is why a great number of flights to Arrecife and other Spanish cities are sold every year. Arrecife is a city in the Canary Islands with unique and colourful festivals. If you are looking for a really great time, San Gines festival is well worth a visit.

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The Feast of Aghios Ioannis in Kos

camp fire on beach

Steeped in antiquarian history, natural beauty, the clearest blue skies and the finest culinary delights, the islands of Greece are understandably popular destinations. But there is much more to Greece then just sea, sand and fine food. Try booking flights to Kos and you will be left speechless at the peculiar island festivals that are on offer over June, July and August.

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The Malta Military Tattoo

Parade of Russian Armed Forces

This year's Malta Military Tattoo will take place on Saturday 9th October and Sunday 10th October at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre (MFCC) at Ta'Qali.

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Horses and Events in Menorca

Equine Fiesta

The island of Menorca hosts several celebrations and festivals during the summer and, unusually, many include horses as part of the programme.

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Don't be left out of the parade in Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival

woman at carnival

Tenerife is an island known for its spectacular events. Santa Cruz de Tenerife carnival is one of such events. This carnival attracts millions of people from everywhere being one of the best celebrated events in Spain. If you are looking for lively entertainment and the time of your life, now is not the time to miss this carnival. Since this is a very popular event, it might be a good idea to book flights to Santa Cruz de Tenerife in advance. This time of the year is a ideal for getting great deals on flights and cheap hotels.

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Celebrate Spanish wine with the locals: La Festa des Vermar

glass of wine and grapes

The Balearic island of Mallorca is known for its hip and happening bars and clubs, its luxurious villas and yachts as well as for being the summer playground of the Spanish Royal family. While basking in the late summer sunshine, this iconic Spanish island deeply steeped in tradition also offers the discerning tourist a chance to experience medieval Spanish custom, and wine, at its best.

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The Festival of San Juan

bonfire on a beach

The Festival of San Juan on June 24th is a major event in the Spanish calendar as it is associated with the coming of summer. The Spanish never need an excuse for a party and the day is celebrated in both urban and rural areas with bonfires and festivities. These fires are particularly popular in the Catalonian and Valencian communities, and in some areas the date is also celebrated as Catalan nation day.

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Ocean Festival Lisbon

sardines drying

Situated at the point where the river Tagus flows into the Atlantic Ocean, it is hardly surprising that Lisbon has always had a special relationship with the sea. This sentiment is celebrated in the Oceans Festival, which takes place in the city from 31st July to 14th August.

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Gran Canaria Fiestas

Gran Canaria bougainvillea

Gran Canaria is an island famed for its beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters. However, there is a hidden world of exotic festivities and colourful celebrations that most tourists remain unaware of. If you can drag yourself away from the idyllic coastline and head inland for a day or two then you can get in touch with a vibrant local culture that has stayed intact for hundreds of years.

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Easter On Mallorca

The cathedral of Palma de Mallorca

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Easter on Corfu and Mallorca

Fir_tree_and easter_eggs

There are only a few days to Easter now and all over Europe villages, towns and cities will be making plans to celebrate the event in many different ways. Easter is also a time when the holiday season starts to take off and, for many, the two weeks that surround the Easter weekend are a perfect opportunity to fly off for a short family break. Places like the Canary Islands are popular as are the closer islands of Mallorca, Menorca and Corfu.

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Opening Parades on 12th February

Portrait of young woman with creative make-up in doll style

Friday 12th February was the date for two spectacular opening ceremonies. In Vancouver, Canada the 2010 Winter Olympics started on that day when the hosts set to stage a stunning event in the BC Place arena. The organisers went to great lengths to ensure everything went according to plan, even asking the audience to arrive early to take part in a rehearsal an hour before the official start.

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Sanford Street Parties

Sidewalk in Sanford, Florida, USA

Visitors to Orlando in Florida who travel with flythomascook.com during the summer will arrive at the Florida Sanford airport. In addition to visiting all the theme park attractions of nearby Orlando it may be worth checking out Sandford itself. The town is well- known for its "Alive after Five" street festivals that take place every month.

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Rethymnon Celebrations

A panoramic image of the Greek town of Rethymnon on the island of crete.

Here are some more details about this year's Carnival that was held in the town of Rethymnon between the end of January and 15th February. This Crete carnival is slightly unusual in that the event programme was made possible due to the participation of several "teams". These teams were made up of locals who either belong to a sporting or social club, or are perhaps a group of friends or family. In addition to the usual street parades and musical performances, there were also lots of "team" parties held in different venues across the town. The dates and locations of these parties were published and everyone was invited to come along.

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Film Fanatics visit Florida

silhouette of roller coaster

For cinema lovers, Orlando is the place to be this April. As a result of its moderate climate and year-round sunshine, this area has a long film history. But now is the time to book flights to Florida, because the Florida Film Festival 2010 is promising to be an unforgettable experience.

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Mallorca February Fiesta

a view of valldermossa

If you were lucky enough to be enjoying a holiday on Mallorca during February, then you might have liked to investigate some of the many carnival events taking place across the island.

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Maspalomas Carnival Get Go Ahead

Maspalomas resort, Gran Canaria

One of the biggest carnivals on Gran Canaria has the green light to go ahead having been given assurances by its local mayor that proper finances would be available.

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Malta in February

Carnival Series Images depicting the mood, spirit, and festivities at the International Malta Carnival 2007 Editorial Images

If you happened to be spending a break on Malta during the second half of February then carnival tradition and sporting excellence awaited as two of the island's main annual events took place before the end of the month.

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Madeira Publicises 2010 Events

scene in portugal  island of madeira

The tourist authorities of the island of Madeira have recently published a listing of some of their most significant cultural events for 2010.

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Ibiza Celebrations

smoking grilled sardines

Colourful costumes, street parades, plenty of parties and of course great food and drink are the ingredients for most carnival events and things are not too different on Ibiza. For five days during February the main towns on the island seem to stop work and get down to the serious business of letting their hair down. If you can't quite imagine what goes on there, then think back to the best fancy dress party you ever went to and multiply it by a factor of ten. Everyone, whether part of an organised group in the parade or just watching from the pavements, is encouraged to dress as brightly, even as outrageously, as possible.

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Greek Carnival in Crete

A night shot of Retymno on Crete, Greece

We've already posted information about several of the big carnival events planned for the Canary Islands and the Balearics but Greece is another country that celebrates at this time of year.

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Gran Canaria Celebrations

Maspalomas in Gran Canaria.

The carnival season is an important time of the year in Gran Canaria and because the resort of Maspalomas and the capital Las Palmas are the two biggest towns on the island, it is not surprising that the most spectacular carnivals are held there. We will cover those events in more detail as they approach, but there are also other towns on the island that host their own programmes.

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December Events in Malta

Red seats in theater

The social calendar during December on the island of Malta has a familiar British ring to it and that's no surprise given Malta's history and its long associated with Britain.

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Planning for 2010 in Gran Canaria

blooming trees on field in spring

Tourists heading for Gran Canaria early in 2010 will be interested to know about some of the important dates on the events calendar for the island.

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Gran Canaria Much MoreThan Paradise

Gran Canaria sunset Mountains

Reputed to have the world's best climate, Gran Canaria is a tourist destination with so much to offer, entertainment and marvellous beaches, antiquities and culture, outdoor sports and nature. More than just an island paradise, GranCanaria is an experience to savor.

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