Gran Canaria this weekend, 6–8 November: Winter Pride, Víctor Manuel

The highlight of the weekend: Winter Pride and Víctor Manuel

Maspalomas Winter Pride runs until Sunday 8 November. The Yumbo Centre in Playa del Inglés has free shows on the main stage every evening, and on Friday from 11:00 to 19:00 the Tropicana Pool Party at Ocean Club Maspalomas, with the Vengaboys and DJ Aron; entry starts at €30.

For a calmer evening, Víctor Manuel plays the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus in Las Palmas on Sunday at 19:00 (doors 18:00, tickets from €49), as part of the Mar Abierto festival.

The automatic AEMET forecast for Las Palmas (2 November) gives Friday variable cloud at 21 to 25 degrees with a 30 per cent chance of rain, Saturday 22 to 26 degrees with 70 per cent, and Sunday showers at 22 to 29 degrees. The day-by-day main stage line-up was not available; it is on the Winter Pride website.

Friday, 6 November

Maspalomas. The Tropicana Pool Party at Ocean Club Maspalomas, Avenida Touroperador Tui 8, runs from 11:00 to 19:00; entry starts at €30, VIP areas cost more. In the evening the municipality invites people to El Tablero for “Sabores del Mundo: De Tapas en Maspalomas”, live music and tapas at popular prices; the announcement gives no start time.

Ingenio. At 20:30 Cristina Medina presents “La Partenaire” at the Centro Cultural Federico García Lorca. In Teror the “Casa del Terror” runs through Saturday with “Apocalipsis Zombie en Teror” on Plaza Teresa de Bolívar; entry is by donation.

South. The drag shows at the Yumbo Centre run as every evening. Swingers Club Secret at CC Cita opens from 22:00 to 05:00. Reynier Mariño plays at 18:00 at Bruma Selva in Meloneras. The Feria del Sureste opens in Arinaga on Avenida de Ansite and runs until Sunday.

Saturday, 7 November

Las Palmas. The Binter NightRun, a night race over 5 and 10 kilometres, starts at 20:00. Sharif and Rapsusklei (hip-hop) play Alboroto; the start time could not be confirmed. Moma Club opens its Saturday night from 23:00 to 06:00.

North and centre. In Teror, Ananda (The Violin Band) plays the Auditorio at 20:30, entry €10. In Gáldar, Joaquín Caserza performs “Conversaciones con mi Mente”, a comedy about mental health, at 20:00 at the Centro Cultural Guaires. In Ingenio, Juan Amodeo plays “013 Origen” at 20:00 at the Centro Cultural Federico García Lorca, and the Teatro Auditorio Agüimes stages the children’s show “Blancanieves, más allá del Espejo”.

South. Winter Pride continues with free shows at the Yumbo Centre. Legends Gran Canaria play at 18:00 at Bruma Selva in Meloneras. The Sparkles Show Bar at the Yumbo Centre has its show at 23:00.

Sunday, 8 November

Las Palmas. Víctor Manuel plays the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus at 19:00 (doors 18:00, from €49). Before that Sunday stays the quiet day: seafront promenade, chiringuitos, markets.

South. To close Winter Pride, the T·Dance Pool Party takes place on Sunday from 12:00 to 19:00 at the Seven Hotel & Wellness, a men-only hotel, according to gaytravel4u. Duo Chocolate play at 18:00 at Bruma Selva, Noelia Vera at 20:00 at Il Mio Caffè.

Outlook. After Winter Pride the south returns to its usual weekly rhythm on Monday. The next edition appears on Monday 9 November.

Las Palmas: the clubs this weekend

The capital's weekend nightlife spreads across three districts. In Vegueta and Triana, the bars around Calle Mendizábal and Plaza de Santa Ana fill up from late evening. The best-known venue is The Paper Club on Calle Remedios: a hall for around 400 people, programming between indie concerts and DJ nights. Alongside it the mainstream club Alboroto, open Saturdays until five in the morning, and the rooftop terrace La Azotea de Benito at Centro Comercial Monopol, Fridays and Saturdays 5 pm to 2 am.

In Las Palmas the regular programme applies. Moma Club offers live DJ sessions from Thursday to Saturday, 23:00 to 06:00 each night; no special programme for this weekend could be found. Alboroto hosts Sharif and Rapsusklei on Saturday. Anyone who wants to move on afterwards will find the usual bars in Vegueta and along the Canteras promenade.

Around Parque Santa Catalina, Chester draws a young crowd with two floors and commercial music. The subculture corner is served by El Baladero, a cultural association with electronic series such as Aurora. Very few venues charge entry — you pay at the bar.

The south: Yumbo, CC Cita and the lifestyle scene

The Yumbo Centre has four floors, is largely LGBTQ+ and open to everyone. The drag shows run every evening: at Ricky's Cabaret Bar the main show starts around 22:30 with free entry, at the Sparkles Show Bar on the second floor karaoke begins at 21:00 and the show at 23:00, and there are more at Chez Funny Boy's, Buddies, Centre Stage and Terry's. The evening starts on the terraces of Spartacus, Eiffel, Voulez Vous, Gran Café Latino or Adonis. After midnight Mykonos and Coco Loco take over, and finally Mantrix until six in the morning. For commercial charts, head to the Kasbah Centre.

Steps from the Yumbo, in the heart of Playa del Inglés, sits CC Cita — the hub of the south's lifestyle and swinger scene. The largest club of its kind is the Swingers Club Secret in the basement: Reggaeton and Spanish House, over 500 guests on busy nights, Friday and Saturday 22:00–05:00. Fun4all is quieter, with several playrooms and its own BDSM room, Saturdays with «Dirty Disco Night» from midnight. Add the meeting points HOTSPOT on the second floor (daily 20:00–02:00, Fridays with live DJ), the Comeback Bar (20:30–01:00, no playrooms), Plan B, Tantra and Majestic GC, formerly Mario's Bar. In nearby CC Sandia, Entry from 18 everywhere; ID required.

The cruise and fetish scene runs on its normal weekly rhythm. The Factory behind the Yumbo Spar has «VICE» on Friday (from 21:00, €10 including a drink token), «SATURDAY XXX» on Saturday (21:00 to 04:00) and «NU-DI-TY» on Sunday (from 17:00, then «CHILLAX» from 21:00), each for men only. NOXON on the first floor of the Yumbo opens daily from 21:00 to 02:00, with free entry from 21:00 to 01:00. Permanent addresses remain Cruise Bar (since 1994), Tom's Cruising Bar and Strong Construction on the ground floor; Sauna Enjoy Maspalomas on Avenida de Tirajana is the only sauna in the south. The Zoo Men's Cruising Bar opens at 21:00 according to its weekly programme: «Gear welcome» on Friday, «Bear Den» on Sunday.

And live music: Café Mozart 2 in CC Anexo II is the top venue for live music and the Sunday-morning session. Tipsy Hammock Bar on Paseo Costa Canarias serves craft cocktails and music until 02:00 on the roof terrace. Café Bolle Jan in CC Cita brings drag and live music from 22:00; the Irish bar Dunes & Tunes in Maspalomas fills after dark, and Cafe del Mar Meloneras on Plaza del Faro offers open-air early evening.

FAQ

What's on in Gran Canaria this weekend?

On Friday 6 November the Winter Pride Tropicana Pool Party runs from 11:00 to 19:00 at Ocean Club Maspalomas. On Saturday 7 November the Binter NightRun starts at 20:00 in Las Palmas, and Ananda plays Teror at 20:30. On Sunday 8 November Víctor Manuel plays the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus at 19:00. At night, Moma Club in Las Palmas and the drag shows at the Yumbo Centre carry the programme.

How long does Maspalomas Winter Pride run?

Until Sunday 8 November. The main stage at the Yumbo Centre in Playa del Inglés has free shows every evening.

How much is the Tropicana Pool Party?

Entry starts at €30. VIP areas with sunloungers or a jacuzzi cost between €120 and €1,500 depending on the package.

How do I get tickets for Víctor Manuel?

Tickets are sold through the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus and start at €49. The concert begins on Sunday at 19:00, doors open at 18:00.

How late are the clubs open?

Moma Club in Las Palmas runs Thursday to Saturday from 23:00 to 06:00. Swingers Club Secret opens Fridays and Saturdays from 22:00 to 05:00. The main show at Ricky's Cabaret Bar in the Yumbo Centre starts around 22:30.