Romería de San Benito Abad (La Laguna)

Romería de San Benito Abad: A Celebration of Canarian Culture

Romería de San Benito Abad in San Cristóbal de La Laguna is one of Tenerife’s most beloved island pilgrimages, where traditional dress, decorated ox carts, folk music, and local food turn a UNESCO-listed historic city into a joyful celebration of rural roots. Held every year on the second Sunday of July, it’s a standout summer event for travelers who want authentic Canary Islands culture beyond the beach.

What is Romería de San Benito Abad (La Laguna)?

Romería de San Benito Abad, also called the Romería Regional de San Benito Abad, is a traditional Canarian pilgrimage-style festival celebrated in La Laguna in honor of San Benito Abad, considered the patron saint of farmers on Tenerife. It’s widely described as the Canary Islands’ most representative romería, with groups joining from across the archipelago, and it has been declared an event of National Tourist Interest.

Unlike a modern ticketed festival, a romería is a community celebration rooted in gratitude for the land and harvest. Spain’s official tourism site explains that the pilgrimage’s origins go back to farmers giving thanks to the saint for the summer harvest, and today it includes traditional dress, folk songs and dancing, and local gastronomy.

When it’s typically held

The main Romería de San Benito Abad takes place on the second Sunday in July each year. WebTenerife notes that July is a month of celebration in La Laguna and that events build toward the popular pilgrimage, which finally takes place on the second Sunday of July.

If you’re planning an island trip, give yourself more than one day. WebTenerife describes a run of events beginning around the end of the previous month with processions in honor of San Benito leading up to the romería, so you may find cultural activities even before the main Sunday.

Where it happens: San Cristóbal de La Laguna

La Laguna is Tenerife’s cultural and historic heartbeat, known for its preserved old town and walkable streets. During the romería, those streets become the route for a huge moving celebration.

WebTenerife places the festival in San Cristóbal de La Laguna and frames it as the city’s major July festivity. Spain.info highlights that many people participate wearing traditional clothing while enjoying folk music, dancing, and regional gastronomy, which typically unfolds along the festival route through the town.

For visitors, the setting is part of the magic: you’re watching a “rural roots” festival inside an elegant historic city, which gives the event a unique Tenerife character.

Why the romería matters on the island

Romería de San Benito Abad is often described as more than a local party. The Romería Regional de San Benito Abad is noted as the only romería in the Canary Islands with the title “Regional,” and it is widely considered among the most important romerías in Spain.

It’s also officially recognized for its cultural and tourism value. WebTenerife states it has been declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest, reinforcing that this is one of the island’s headline heritage experiences.

What you’ll see: key highlights and traditions

Traditional costumes (traje típico) everywhere you look

One of the most striking parts of the romería is how many locals dress in traditional Canarian clothing. Spain.info emphasizes traditional dress as a defining part of participation, which makes the streets feel like a living cultural museum rather than a spectator-only event.

Decorated carts, livestock, and offerings

The procession includes decorated carts and offerings of typical produce. The romería description notes that carts are decorated with typical products, and people wear traditional costumes while folk music accompanies the route.

Wonderful Tenerife adds a signature detail: seven young women in the traditional dress of different islands carry flowers and fruit as an offering, while floats, folk groups, and livestock parade through the streets.

Food and drink shared along the route

Romerías are famous for their generosity. Spain.info highlights “regional gastronomy” as part of the experience, reflecting the tradition of sharing local flavors during the pilgrimage celebration.

Folk music and dance in the streets

This is a festival you hear before you see. Descriptions consistently mention Canarian folk music accompanying the procession route, creating a soundtrack of strings, drums, and singing that keeps the celebration moving.

How to experience it like a local traveler

Romería de San Benito Abad is easy to enjoy if you come with the right expectations: crowds, warmth, and a lot of walking.

Best ways to join in:

• Arrive early on the main Sunday to see the most complete procession and to find a comfortable viewing spot.
• Eat and drink gradually through the day, because the event is long and the atmosphere builds over hours.
• Consider renting or wearing traditional attire if you want to feel fully part of the festival culture, as traditional dress is central to participation.

Practical travel tips for La Laguna on romería day

Get there without stress

La Laguna connects easily with Santa Cruz by tram, making it a smart option if you’re staying near the capital and don’t want to deal with parking on a busy festival day. Aim to travel earlier than you think you need, because crowds can slow everything down.

Pick a base with atmosphere

Staying in La Laguna lets you enjoy the evening ambience after the day crowds thin, and it gives you more time to explore local streets, cafés, and heritage corners. If you’re staying elsewhere on the island, plan a full-day outing and keep your return flexible.

What to pack

Bring comfortable shoes, sun protection, and a refillable water bottle. Add a light layer for the evening, since La Laguna can feel cooler than coastal resorts due to its elevation.

Pricing: what does Romería de San Benito Abad cost?

Romería de San Benito Abad is generally a free public celebration. Hello Canary Islands lists the event and explicitly states the price is free, which aligns with the romería’s public-street and community nature.

Your main costs as a visitor are transport, food and drinks during the day, and accommodation if you’re staying overnight in La Laguna or nearby.

Verified Information at a glance

• Event name: Romería de San Benito Abad (Romería Regional de San Benito Abad)
• Event category: Cultural and religious pilgrimage-style festival (traditional costumes, folk music, decorated carts, local food).
• Typically held: Second Sunday of July
• Location: San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
• Recognition: Declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest
• Key traditions: Traditional dress, decorated carts with typical products, folk music along the route; offerings of fruit and flowers described in local festival summaries.
• Pricing: Listed as free to attend.

Plan your Tenerife island summer around the second Sunday of July, head to La Laguna early, and spend the day following music, ox carts, and traditional dress through the historic streets, because Romería de San Benito Abad is one of the most joyful ways to feel the real Canary Islands spirit, shared openly with everyone who comes to celebrate.