Puerto de la Cruz celebrates its patron, the Santa Cruz, on 3 May. Around the town, crosses are dressed in flowers; residents, schools and local groups add their own displays, while music and family events lead towards the church service and procession. It is a lovely time to wander the old streets and see how a shared tradition takes a different shape at each doorway and square.
The date of the Day of the Cross stays the same, but the surrounding programme, displays and procession route are announced each year. This guide explains what makes the Fiestas Patronales de Mayo special. Find the next confirmed events on our Events page.
Fiestas de Mayo at a glance
| Main day | 3 May, the Day of the Cross; exhibitions and cultural events may begin in late April or the first days of May. |
|---|---|
| Where | Plaza de Europa, the Ayuntamiento area and other announced cross displays; Peña de Francia church and central streets for the religious celebration. |
| Look for | Flowered crosses, school and neighbourhood creations, folklore, family activities, music and the Santa Cruz procession. |
| Admission | Outdoor cross displays and street viewing can be enjoyed in public areas. Check the current listing for any guided walk, booked activity or concert arrangements. |
| Current programme | See upcoming events for confirmed dates, places and times. |
Why the crosses bloom in May
The Santa Cruz is the patron of Puerto de la Cruz, and the town marks 3 May with both devotion and a burst of colour. A cross decorated with fresh flowers can be a simple act of care by a family or a much larger community display. Some stand by chapels or in a doorway; others are created by schools, artists or neighbourhood groups. Take time to look at the small differences: the choice of flowers, a cloth draped over the wood, candles, ribbons or the way a display fits its surroundings.
The fiesta has a public, creative side and a solemn religious one. In the 2026 programme, exhibitions of crosses appeared beside the cultural events before the principal service and procession on 3 May. You can enjoy the floral displays without attending a service, or make the church and procession the focus of your visit. Both experiences are part of the same town celebration.
Image: One flower-decorated cross displayed in Puerto de la Cruz for the May 2025 celebrations.
The Santa Cruz procession on 3 May
The religious heart of the fiesta is the Eucharist and procession in honour of the Santa Cruz, patron of the municipality. In 2026, the main service was held at Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia before the cross was carried through the historic centre. There was also an earlier service at the Capilla Cruz de Las Lonjas, showing how the day reaches beyond a single church.
The 2026 procession went by Calle Quintana, Santo Domingo and La Marina, reached the fishing harbour, and returned through Plaza del Charco, Blanco, Iriarte and San Juan. Along the way, fireworks and an institutional reading formed part of that year’s programme. These details describe a past edition; always check the next announced route and any local restrictions before choosing a place to stand.
After the procession, the Libro de Priostes is traditionally signed and the next Prioste named. It is a more intimate continuation of the day after the public procession. For a visitor, the most rewarding experience may be to watch from a comfortable position along the route, then enjoy the decorated crosses at a gentler pace.
Image: The Santa Cruz passes along a town-centre street during the 2026 procession.
Schools, neighbours and local groups
One of the pleasures of the Fiestas de Mayo is seeing how many people help make them. The 2026 celebrations included crosses created by nursery, primary and secondary schools, older residents, municipal workers, neighbours, artists and local organisations. Their work appeared at the Ayuntamiento, Plaza de Europa and other announced points around town.
The school displays bring a playful, imaginative side to a centuries-old tradition. At the same time, a cross cared for year after year by a neighbourhood or chapel tells a quieter story of continuity. You do not need to know every group behind a display to appreciate it, but a short walk and a few conversations often reveal how proud people are of their contribution.
The sites change from one edition to the next. Look for a current map or listing before trying to find an individual cross, and enjoy the ones you happen upon as you walk.
Image: Colourful school and community crosses exhibited outside the Ayuntamiento in 2026.
Music, folklore and family events
The days around 3 May give the fiesta a wider welcome. The 2026 programme opened with a talk on the history of the Cross celebrations, followed by the pregón, public concerts, Canarian folklore and a guided route around the crosses. There were also traditional games, workshops and children’s performances near the Casa de la Aduana. These are examples of what one edition offered, not a fixed timetable for the next year.
In 2026, Plaza Concejil hosted performances by local and visiting artists, including a Canarian and Portuguese folklore gathering. The music is a good reason to stay into the evening after seeing the crosses in daylight. Families might prefer a daytime workshop and a short walk; others may want to hear a concert and return for the procession on the main day.
Some guided activities can require advance registration, and stage arrangements may vary. Check our current events listings for the performers, places and any booking details when the new programme is announced.
Image: Musicians in traditional dress performing at the 2026 May Fiestas.
Where to explore the Fiestas de Mayo
Begin in the old centre. Plaza de Europa and the surroundings of the Ayuntamiento hosted school and neighbourhood crosses in 2026. Plaza Concejil was a setting for the pregón and music, while other artistic crosses appeared at places farther across the municipality, including Punta Brava, La Vera and the Botánico entrance. A town-centre stroll shows only part of the whole display, so decide whether you want a compact walk or a longer route.
Plaza de la Iglesia and Peña de Francia are the natural focus for the main religious service. Our church guide gives the building’s history if you would like to return on a quieter day. Nearby San Francisco and its historic chapels make a worthwhile continuation of an old-town walk. Their guide is a heritage detour, not a claim that San Francisco hosts the main May procession.
The procession takes a route through the centre that can include the harbour and Plaza del Charco. Watch for road changes and keep a little time free to wander; the flowered crosses reward an unhurried visit.
Image: The Santa Cruz set within Peña de Francia church for the May 2026 celebrations.
Plan your visit
3 May is the main day, but the surrounding events can run across several days. The 2026 cross exhibitions began in late April and the main programme built towards the Sunday procession. Other years may place the pregón, concerts and guided walk differently. Use our Events page for the next confirmed programme.
For the decorated crosses, daylight makes it easier to see the flowers and handiwork. Bring comfortable shoes for the cobbled or uneven old-town streets and sun protection for a daytime walk. For the procession, arrive early enough to settle at a viewing point without blocking residents, shop entrances or the bearers. If mobility or seating matters, check the route and event-specific arrangements before travelling.
Public displays and street viewing are straightforward to enjoy while walking around town. A guided tour, family activity or performance may have its own registration, capacity or admission details. Check the individual event rather than assuming the same rule applies throughout the fiestas.
Enjoy the fiesta at your own pace
If you have only a morning, start at Plaza de Europa and the Ayuntamiento area if the new programme places the crosses there, then continue towards Plaza de la Iglesia. Pause at displays that catch your eye instead of trying to cover the whole municipality. If you have a full day, pair the flowers with a folklore performance or a concert once their times are announced.
The service and procession have a devotional character, even when the streets are full of visitors. Keep the route clear, follow stewards’ directions and allow the cross and its bearers room. Inside a chapel, look quietly and respect anyone who is praying. The best memories are often the small encounters: someone straightening flowers, a child proudly showing a school cross, or music drifting across a square.
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Find the next Fiestas de Mayo programme
Check our Events page for confirmed crosses, performances, family activities and procession details. The 2026 article linked above is a past programme and offers a sense of how the celebration can fill the town.