Santa Cruz is putting traditional Canarian games back on the agenda with a programme of free activities running from 3 to 19 November.
Called Jugando a lo Canario, the initiative was chosen by residents through the 2026-2027 Participatory Budget process. The idea is fairly straightforward: give people of all ages the chance to enjoy games that have been part of Canarian life for generations, while bringing different age groups together.
Activities will take place across all five districts, with events in neighbourhoods and public spaces aimed at children, teenagers, adults and older residents.
A chance to rediscover traditional games
Participants will be able to try a range of traditional games, including the trompo (spinning top), boliche (marbles), rope games, sack races, bochas and tejo.
These aren’t simply games to keep children occupied for an afternoon. They form part of the islands’ cultural heritage and collective memory, and the council wants to make sure they don’t quietly disappear.
The sessions will be led by specialist activity coordinators and are open to families and anyone else who fancies joining in.
Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez said the programme would give residents an opportunity to reconnect with games that have been passed down through generations.
Javier Caraballero, councillor responsible for Citizen Participation, confirmed that all activities will be free and spread across the municipality’s five districts.
Where and when?
The programme runs from 3 to 19 November, with the first activities taking place this week in several locations across the Salud-La Salle district.
The full schedule, including individual dates, times and venues, is available through the Santa Cruz Citizen Participation Portal.
It’s a nice opportunity to get children away from screens for a while, while giving older generations a chance to show them how these games were played long before anyone had a games console.