Gay Pride 2009
May 4th - 10th

You can also check out the official Maspalomas Gay Pride website to see photos from past years, the schedule for this year and all their news here. Over the last few years, the number of people coming here for Pride week have increased at a vast rate so expect the resort to be packed solid.

What pride haven't organised, the "Party Blue" team seem to have covered, in particular one of my favourites, the pool parties. They have 3 of them planned around Pride Week at the Club Tucanes complex, just round the corner from the Yumbo Center. They take place on May 6th, 9th and 11th.

Don't miss the world record attempt at the longest drag-queen chorus line (Saturday 10th 1530 in the Yumbo center).

Las Palmas Carnival - 2009
6th - 28th February

The second largest carnival in the world after Brasil takes place each year up in the north of the island in the capital city of Las Palmas. It lasts for around 3 weeks with events most days for everyone from kids to grandparents. All sorts of competitions, shows, street parties..

Friday 20th February 2008 is the main day to watch out for and the start of the best week-end. The Friday is the Drag Queen competition which is the biggest evening of the entire 3 weeks of carnival. This is followed by all-night street parties (tens of thousands of revellers of all ages). The day after (Saturday) is the Big Parade with a route 6km long and the carnival procession lasting around 8 hours. After that, more all night street parties. If you want to spend the week-end in the city then the day after the drag is the Big Parade all afternoon and evening through the city streets.

Another highlight of the carnival is the strange tradition here that all the straight guys, now matter how cute and macho they are (and they are!!!) dress up as girls (naughty nurses, tarts etc...) whilst the girls dress up as guys. The main theme this time is "Pirates".

Official website for Las Palmas Carnival

Maspalomas Carnival - 2008
12th - 22nd March, 2009

Just as the carnival in the north is slowing down, we start 10 more days of carnival down here in the south, Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles. Most of the events take place in and around the largest commercial center which is also the gay center - The Yumbo.

The big nights here are February 15th for the drag queen competition and February 16th for the all-night street party. Expect thousands upon thousands of revellers for each event, lots of cute latino guys (and us tourists of course). On Feb 16th you'll be hard-pushed to find that many Spanish not dressed in costume, everyone really gets in the carnival mood here. 16th by day is the big street parade.

Official website for Maspalomas Carnival
(change it to English and search in the diary)