The Lanzarote Council organized the visit to the 35th Lanzarote Craft Fair, coinciding with the patron saint celebrations in honor of the Virgen de Los Dolores. This traditional initiative included the participation of the five dependent elderly care residences on Wednesday morning, and in the afternoon, it added more than 1,500 senior citizens from the seven municipalities of Lanzarote, not forgetting La Graciosa.
During the day, the elderly were able to visit the various stands at the fair, where a wide variety of handicrafts are exhibited, from ceramics to traditional textiles. As a closing to this day of leisure and culture, attendees enjoyed the performance of the famous folk group Los Sabandeños, a musical event that packed the Plaza de Los Dolores, next to the sanctuary of the island's Patron Saint.
The president of the Lanzarote Council, Oswaldo Betancort, shared his joy for the success of the day and highlighted the importance of these initiatives. "This is the firm commitment of our government group, which was presided over at the beginning of the current term by the creation of a specific Area for them; and by the subsequent launch of the first Council of Senior Citizens of Lanzarote and La Graciosa (CIPM). Our elders deserve everything because they are the ones who, with their effort, have allowed us to have our current quality of life," he concludes.
Socialization and devotion
The councilor of the Senior Citizen and Intergenerational Relations Area, Nori Machín, has expressed her satisfaction with the excellent reception of this event. "We have organized the activity for the entire group of senior citizens of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, where they have been able to appreciate the work of the island's artisans. And they have once again found a space for meeting and socializing, also showing their love and devotion to Our Lady the Virgen de Los Dolores," she says.
For his part, the councilor of Social Welfare, Marci Acuña, has especially emphasized the relevance of the activities aimed at dependent elderly people, who were present during the morning. "On this tour, they were able to visit the venue, enjoying and remembering, through folklore and crafts, their connection with reality, their history and their culture," he highlights.
Both Marci Acuña and Nori Machín shared the entire day with the hundreds of senior citizens who came to Mancha Blanca under the organization of the Council and the collaboration of the town councils. They were also accompanied during the visit by different councilors of the Institution, as well as the island's president.
The Lanzarote Craft Fair, one of the most important events on the island's cultural calendar, is held every year in honor of the Virgen de Los Dolores and features the participation of more than a hundred artisans who exhibit the best of their talent and creativity, contributing to the recognition and preservation of the island's cultural heritage.