More than 1,000 people took part in Adeje’s annual pilgrimage on Sunday, bringing Tenerife’s romería calendar to a close for the year.
Dedicated to Our Lady of the Incarnation, Saint Ursula and Saint Sebastian, the event went ahead despite overcast skies and a few light showers. Participants dressed in traditional Canarian clothing and made their way along Calle Grande, accompanied by decorated floats and folk groups.
One noticeable change in recent years is the absence of animal-drawn carts, which have been removed from the event since 2023.
Folk Music, Traditional Dress and Plenty of Local Flavour
The pilgrimage is organised by Adeje Town Council and the town’s municipal folklore school, with groups from other Canary Islands invited to join in.
This year, the Guerma folk group travelled from Tías in Lanzarote, bringing traditional costumes, songs and dances representing different styles of Canarian folk music.
They were followed by several floats, including Los Viñedos, which has been part of the pilgrimage since 1982. Its display featured photographs capturing memories of family and friends enjoying previous celebrations.
Food was also part of the occasion, naturally.
The Amigos de Adeje group prepared sandwiches with green and red mojo sauces and offered samples of marinated chicken to people watching the procession. Spokesperson Ana Niebla explained that the group had chosen chicken because it was well known locally, although their version wasn’t quite the traditional recipe.
A Tradition Shared Across Generations
Members of the Ichasagua hiking group also took part, turning themselves into a float for the day. The group has been involved in the pilgrimage for more than 50 years and used the occasion to encourage others to join in.
For José David Díaz Arzola of the Verodal folk group from Arona, traditional clothing remains an important part of the celebration. He stressed that participants should dress appropriately for the occasion, rather than treating it as an ordinary day out.
As the procession drew to a close, offerings were made to Our Lady of the Incarnation and Saint Ursula, while Saint Sebastian remained part of the procession throughout.
The event marks the end of Tenerife’s pilgrimage season for 2026, with the next celebrations expected to begin in January.