The Los Dolores festivities will kick off next week, and this Thursday, the Cabildo and the Tinajo City Council held a press conference to present this edition, which will be held once again without fireworks and without sacramental plays. Regarding the issue that is marking the festivities of all the municipalities, the presence or absence of minors under 16 years of age in the open-air dances, the mayor, Jesús Machín, has confirmed that "they will be able to be in the pilgrimage and in other events accompanied by adults, but not in the stalls."
In his speech, the mayor of Tinajo asked for "a large turnout for the pilgrimage" - in which he assured that he "hopes to gather about 60,000 people" -, as well as in the Romero Dance and the religious events in honor of the Patron Saint.
Regarding the absence of pyrotechnic shows, Machín reiterated last year's message: "We cannot burn 15,000 euros of gunpowder when so many families are in need." As for the rest of the program, the mayor announced that next Wednesday the 10th, at 8:30 p.m., will be the opening speech, by former councilor Aquilino Romero.
Afterwards, there will be the concert 'Timplemente', with Benito Cabrera, José Manuel Ramos and Toñín Corujo, among others. "And this will not be the only musical performance," the mayor pointed out, adding that "on Sunday, from 1:30 p.m., Cien pies ni cabeza, Los salvapantallas and Los Gofiones will perform, in addition to the comedy show by Matías Alonso and Yanely Hernández, from En clave de ja".
Novelties in the Craft Fair
As for the Craft Fair, the Councilor for Education and Culture of the Cabildo, Emma Cabrera, was in charge of presenting the novelties of this year, after the 25th anniversary was celebrated in the last edition. "We understood that we had to find a new direction, more current and focused on current needs and the future. An approach that affects both new and traditional crafts," said Cabrera.
As explained by the councilor, this year the Fair will be set and will feature elements of traditional Lanzarote architecture. In addition, this time the inauguration will be in the afternoon and will be seasoned with a show designed by the artist from Arrecife, Esteban Cedrés, and the day will close with the performance of the timplista Alexis Lemes.
On Friday there will be folkloric performances on the stage in the inner courtyard of the fairgrounds, where the tribute to the artisan of the year, Juliana Delgado, a weaver on a loom, will also take place that day.
Cabrera also pointed out that "this year there will be 85 artisans from all the islands, except El Hierro, which, however, will be represented in the Nanino Díaz Cutillas Festival." More than half (52) are from Lanzarote and La Graciosa. To these must be added five food stalls (three of pastries, one of cheeses and another of liqueurs), as well as four stalls of artisans from Gran Canaria, another four from Tenerife, three from Fuerteventura; and two from La Palma and La Gomera. In addition, there will be a representation of the crafts of the Moroccan town of Tangier.
To these stalls of private artisans must be added the institutional ones, which this year will be those of the seven municipalities of Lanzarote, the Cabildo of Fuerteventura and the Cabildo of Lanzarote itself, which will host the artisan of the year.
Economic contribution of the Cabildo
For his part, the president of the Cabildo, Pedro San Ginés, stressed "the important effort made by the Cabildo to support this event, given its insular character and the enormous influx of followers and visitors it has, providing the City Council of Tinajo with a nominal subsidy of 50,000 euros; to which must be added the budget of the Fair, which is 150,000 euros, including the 32,000 euros contributed by the Industry Area of the Corporation".
"We hope that this effort," said the president, "will result in satisfaction for all those who come in the next days, September 11 to 15, to Mancha Blanca and participate in the numerous and varied proposals that we make to them".
The mayor of Tinajo also began his speech by thanking "the Cabildo for its great economic effort, as well as the understanding and excellent collaboration of its technicians and workers with those of the City Council of Tinajo".
