“The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spanish: Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife) is held each February in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of the largest of the Canary Islands, and attracts people from all over the world. It is considered the second-most popular and internationally-known carnival, after the one held in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Partially for this reason, the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is twinned with the city of Rio de Janeiro.

The festivities on the streets of Santa Cruz de Tenerife start on the Friday before Carnival with an opening parade, which reaches its height during the night when thousands of people in fancy dresses dance until the early hours of the next day. The party continues night after night until Ash Wednesday. That day, people of Santa Cruz de Tenerife celebrate the “entierro de la sardina” (burial of the sardine), and with this event the carnival is officially over. However, the party starts up again the following weekend, known as the weekend of the piñata.

The festival has two parts: the official Carnival, and the Carnival on the street. The official carnival has more than a hundred groups, including murgas, comparsas, rondallas and other musical groups. The street carnival is more loosely organized, and comprises the people celebrating on the streets. Thousands of people come each day to the streets to participate, most of whom wear a disguise in accordance with Carnival tradition”. – Wikipedia

Nominee Amanda Perdomo (L) prepares at backstage for her performance before she was elected as Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee Carmen Desire Garcia looks on at backstage on Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Gala on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee Yolanda Mendoza (C) prepares at backstage for her performance on Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Gala on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee Ana Belen Sepulveda prepares at backstage for her performance on Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Gala on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee Carmen Desire Garcia (2R) prepares at backstage for her performance on Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Gala on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee Carmen Veronica Gil Perez prepares at backstage for her performance on Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Gala on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee Amanda Perdomo poses for photographs at backstage before she was elected as Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee Amanda Perdomo wears her dress at backstage before she was elected as Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Amanda Perdomo performs on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee for Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Rocio Benitez performs on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee for Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Jennifer Alonso performs on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee for Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Suleima Martin performs on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee for Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Veronica Gil Perez performs on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Amanda Perdomo performs on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife brings every year thousands of revellers. Santa Cruz is the closest European equivalent to the Brazilian Carnival from Rio Janeiro. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee for Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Naira Reyes performs on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee for Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Noemi Hormiga performs on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee for Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Nuria Garcia performs on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee for Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Sara Davila Lopez performs on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee for Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Jennifer Alonso performs on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee for Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Jennifer Alonso performs on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee for Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Gara Ramos performs on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee for Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Yolanda Mendoza performs on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Nominee for Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival Belen Sepulveda performs on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

Amanda Perdomo celebrates after being elected Queen of the 2013 Santa Cruz carnival on February 26, 2014 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary island of Tenerife, Spain. The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife brings every year thousands of revellers. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)