The town of Playa Blanca experienced a day of many emotions this Sunday, July 20, in the maritime procession in honor of the Virgen del Carmen, participated in the southern bay by more than half a hundred fishing and sports boats and hundreds of neighbors and tourists stationed along the promenade who made this celebration an act of devotion and also of deep gratitude to the Patron Saint, for the life, work and well-being of a town with a deeply rooted seafaring tradition.
Faithful and companions participated in the Plaza del Carmen in the mass presided over by the parish priest of Yaiza, Jonathan Almeida, and then went out in procession amidst cheers and applause to the small beach of the town next to the Pal Porrón band, where an atmosphere of spectacular celebration was already palpable: the beach and the promenade were packed and decorated boats were waiting for the Virgin to board the Nuevo Fren fishing boat of Óscar González to begin the pilgrimage by sea.
The party also continued on land with band music and the meeting of locals and visitors on the seafront of Playa Blanca. After about forty minutes of procession, the most exciting moment of the day arrived, the disembarkation of the Virgin on the shoulders of fishermen from Playa Blanca with shouts of cheers to the Virgin and the sailors encouraged by the president of the Fishermen's Association, Cristo Caraballo, excited like most of the audience. The Virgin was applauded on the beach, there was a Canarian song dedicated to her and she returned to the Carmen church from where she will leave again in July of next year for a new tribute from her faithful.
The party continued in the Plaza with musical performances by Los Aseres and Iván Cacú and his orchestra. Playa Blanca closed its patron saint festivities highlighted by the high participation and zero incidents. On behalf of the Yaiza City Council, the mayor, Óscar Noda, and the Councilor for Festivities, Daniel Medina, thank the work of the municipal staff, Local Police, Civil Protection Yaiza and the collaboration of all the people and entities committed to Playa Blanca and its festivities.