Gay carnival 2011
Sitges Carnival 2011 is possibly the best gay carnival in Europe!
Sitges, a beautiful Spanish town 35 kilometres southwest of Barcelona, is worldwide renowned for two things – its Film Festival and its Carnival. This year, the later of these globally celebrated events, is being held between 3rd – 9th March and promises to be a corker…
This Bohemian seaside resort has long been regarded as a playground for many a wealthy youngster from Barcelona and beyond and has long been a popular gay destination, becoming known as one of the gay capitals of the world.
The annual Sitges Carnival attracts party-goers of all ages, nationalities and sexual preferences, seeking to indulge in a week of unrestrained revelry. And with its 3,000 plus parade of colourful and outrageous masquerades and over 50 floats, this particularly wild Spanish fiesta, never fails to create a week of spectacular sights and experiences.
The party commences on the Thursday before Lent with the arrival of the King of the ‘Carnestoltes’, and is followed by a seven-day bonanza of dressing up, dancing and drinking, under the sun-drenched Spanish sky.
The most lavish spectacle involves the large possession of glamorous Spanish widows, drag queens squealing with dissolute delight and flamboyant revellers draped in feathers and sequins, from every corner of Europe and beyond, parading through the otherwise comparatively quiet streets of Sitges.
What is considered as one of Spain’s largest parties finally concludes on Ash Wednesday when the Carnival King is killed (not really!), marking an end to the spectacle, glamour and fun – until next year!
If you fancy exchanging the late British winter in exchange for capturing some early Spanish sun spring rays in this fascinating resort, be sure to head to Sitges between 3rd – 9th March. With several airlines regularly flying to Barcelona from the UK and with the Sitges Carnival being free, you have little excuse but to join in one of the biggest carnival parties in Europe.
Visit the official Sitges guide for more information on what promises to be a week of sheer debauchery.