Public Holiday - Fri 20 September 2013 - Virgen de La Peña

[Captain Sensible]

Friday 20 September is the Fiesta of the Virgin de La Pena. It is a public holiday on the island to celebrate the island's patron saint.. Around 10,000 people make their way to the village of Vega de Rio Palmas, south of Betancuria, to pay their respect at the church in the village which is named after the saint. The Romeria - the walk along the barranco (dry river bed) from Betancuria, takes place at 4pm. People in traditional costume walk to Vega de Rio Palmas, and there are floats from the different areas of the island and singing and dancing groups. The procession reaches Vega de Rio Palma at 6pm. During the evening and night, thousands of people arrive in the village. There's a firework display at 1am, followed by an all night dance until 6am. Buses are available all night to ferry people back to Antigua, Puerto del Rosario and Morro Jable etc.