Carnival season has arrived on Lanzarote, with the principal festivities in Arrecife taking place this weekend. So head to the capital on Saturday 9th February for the Drag Queen competition, live batucada music in the Parque Islas Canarias and along the seafront from midday and an opportunity to sample some tapas in the Parque Ramirez Cerda from 13.00. The theme for Arrecife’s carnival this year is the Dance of the Sheets.

The children’s procession takes place on Sunday at the Recinto Ferial, next to the Cabildo de Lanzarote building, whilst the main parade gets underway on Monday 11th from 18.00 and runs the length of the Via Medular through Arrecife and ends at the Recinto Ferial. The Burial of the Sardine which marks the end of carnival is scheduled for Wednesday 13th at 18.00, beginning at the Ayuntamiento of Arrecife and ending in the ParqueMaritimo.

Puerto del Carmen then begins its celebrations from Thursday 14th February, with the children’s carnival taking place from 18.00 in the old harbour area of the town. The theme for Puerto del Carmen’s festivities this year is The Egypt of the Pharoahs, so expect to see plenty of Cleopatras and Tutankamuns. The main parade in Puerto del Carmen occurs on Saturday 16th February, with a procession along the Avenida de las Playas from 17.00.

Haria and Playa Blanca then have their parades and festivities starting on 21st (Haria) and 22nd February (Playa Blanca), with the main processions both taking place on Saturday 23rd February. The theme in Playa Blanca is the 1920’s, whilst Haria has chosen a Cordoban Fair.

In the final week of February and into the beginning of March, Costa Teguise will have its chance at carnival mayhem with a Hollywood inspired theme and the parade takes place on Saturday 2nd March from 18.00, on the Avenida de las Islas Canarias and in the Pueblo Marinero. On Sunday, there will be further celebrations in Teguise, during the Sunday morning market.

Last but not least, the town of San Bartolomé holds its carnival festivities from Saturday 9th March, with the parade taking place on Tuesday 12th. The World of Disney is the inspiration for this particular edition of carnival.