Like almost everything in Benidorm, it started modestly, almost as a gathering of friends, in this case in 2011, and it grew to become an event of international scope. This is the Benidorm Pride, considered today as the closing of the calendar of Gay Pride parties that cross Europe during the summer. According to City Council sources, more than 20,000 attendees are expected to provide the city with a colorful international atmosphere... and an interesting replacement for summer tourism, which is beginning to decline at this time.
Because after a month of August in which an unexpected boom in Portuguese tourism has made it possible to balance the slight decline in the predominantly British tourism, hoteliers state that Benidorm already has 87% reservations for September, "with a guarantee of exceeding these data approaching back to 90% in part thanks to the celebration of the Benidorm Pride Festival 2023 that takes place from September 4 to 10".
The festivities began on Monday in around thirty bars and clubs in the old town, the true heart of the party, where they continued on Tuesday with the inevitable presence of the "pink" character in fashion, at Barbie's Bottomless Brunch organized by The Westend Showbar.
Yesterday, Wednesday, the KINK fetishist party took place at DYMK and the Rosa party at Tiki Town Beach Club, while the City Council, adding a cultural note to the event, inaugurated the painting exhibition Vibe Arte, from the Espai d'Art of the Town Hall. Bulgarian-born artist Martin Georgiev Binev.
Right in front of the Town Hall, the Pool Party will take place today, Thursday, at the Primavera Park Hotel. On Friday, a new Barbie's Bottomless Brunch at The Westend Showbar and at 7:00 p.m. the White Party at KU Lounge Bar, on Levante beach.
And on Saturday afternoon, the great Parade, the parade-demonstration in which the participation of "more than twenty floats, American heads and vintage cars and motorcycles" is scheduled, according to the Councilor for Events, Jesús Carrobles. . As in previous editions, the Parade will start at 5:00 p.m. from Rincón de Loix and will go along Paseo de Levante and a section of Avenida Mediterráneo until it reaches the Julio Iglesias auditorium in Parque de l'Aigüera, where the main festival of the Benidorm Pride.
Carrobles highlights that "Benidorm Pride is one of the benchmark events in our city, which attracts a large national and international public and which brings a touch of color to our streets". The mayor highlights "the injection" that this celebration represents for Benidorm, since for the weekend "98% occupancy is expected." The organization highlights that a large part of the expected public is of British origin and that, even, many of the attendees "extend their stay beyond Pride week and stay in Benidorm for periods of up to fifteen days."
Among the great novelties of this year, the organizers highlight the "synergies" that have been sealed with hotels and local companies, such as Primavera Park, Ku Lounge or Benidorm Palace, where some of the parties that were previously held in the auditoriums will be held Óscar Esplá or Julio Iglesias.
In addition to the British and national public, the attendance of many Italians and French is also expected, markets that have been reached through the tourist fairs attended by Visit Benidorm.
