Several thousand people celebrate Benidorm Pride with a massive parade

Several thousand people have filled the streets and avenues along which the Benidorm Pride parade has taken place this Saturday, the most crowded that can be remembered. From the start on Ametlla de Mar avenue to the arrival at the Julio Iglesias auditorium, thousands of people have followed the fun, lively and multicoloured ‘parade’ organised for the occasion.

It was the central event of Benidorm Pride, a series of celebrations during the week organised by the LGBTIQ+ community that put the finishing touch on the most important Pride weeks in Europe. Mayor Toni Pérez, together with the Minister of Tourism of the Generalitat Valenciana, Nuria Montes, have joined this protest parade, which they have followed from various points along the route together with other members of the municipal executive, and from one of the institutional floats that participated in it.

Rainbow flags, costumes, floats, trucks and many people walking and dancing have shown Benidorm's most diverse and welcoming side, a European benchmark for LGBTIQ+ tourism.

The organisation, the City Council and Visit Benidorm have estimated that more than 20,000 people have come to the city expressly to experience these days of celebration and protest, mostly from the United Kingdom, as could be seen along the route, but also from other parts of Spain and Europe.

The parade started from the confluence of Ametlla de Mar with Paseo de Levante. It ran along the beachfront to Avenida Europa, where it turned to take Avenida del Mediterráneo towards Plaza de la Hispanidad, Avenida de l’Aigüera, until reaching the Julio Iglesias Amphitheatre, where the party continued. After a week of celebrations and diverse activities, Benidorm Pride ends tomorrow, Sunday, with the ‘Closing Party’ at Óscar Esplá Amphitheatre.