The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was declared a tourist festival of international interest by Spain in 1980 and is one of the best known in the world. It begins on February 1 and runs until March 10. In this photo, one of the 19 queen contestants shows off her costume on the main stage.DESIREE MARTIN (AFP)Contestants wear costumes that are several meters tall and can weigh up to 200 kilos. This year the theme was “the marine depths.”DESIREE MARTIN (AFP)The main event of the Carnival is the queen gala, where contestants parade elaborate costumes in a spectacle known as a ‘fantasia.’DESIREE MARTIN (AFP)Contestant Ana María González Alberto wears a White Witch costume designed by Antonio Santos Arteaga during the queen gala.Cristóbal García (EFE)The Carnival, which dates back to the 16th century, takes months to prepare and is celebrated in cities across the island.DESIREE MARTIN (AFP)One of the 19 contestants prepares backstage.DESIREE MARTIN (AFP)Carolina Izquierdo Vera, one of the 19 contestants, in a costume designed by Zara Díaz Mendoza.DESIREE MARTIN (AFP)Priscila Medina Quintero, adorned in a golden costume with purple and white feathers, was crowned this year’s Carnival queen. The queen is responsible for representing the carnival at tourism fairs as a representative for the Canary Islands.CRISTOBAL GARCÍA
