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Benidorm is preparing for one of its busiest days of the year, as the Fancy Dress Party returns to Rincón de Loix on Thursday November 12.

 

Organisers expect around 30,000 people to take part, many of them British visitors, although the event is increasingly attracting revellers from other countries as well as Spanish tourists and local residents.

 

The celebration begins at 2pm and will be centred on Gerona, Lepanto and Mallorca streets. The main event is the colourful parade, which starts after 4pm.

 

Eighteen floats, dance groups and entertainment acts have already registered for the parade, more than took part last year. More than 50 bars, restaurants and other venues are also expected to be involved in the day.

 

Benidorm’s Councillor for Events and Citizen Security, Jesús Carrobles, presented the event alongside Rubén Navarro, representing Abreca, and Manolo Nieto, who started the celebration 32 years ago at Sinatra’s pub.

 

Carrobles said the party had grown from an informal beginning into an event that now attracts around 30,000 people.

 

“It started in a particular, very informal way, and over the years it has grown into an event that brings together some 30,000 people,” he said.

 

He added that it began with a mainly British audience but now includes visitors of other nationalities, as well as Spanish tourists and residents from Benidorm and nearby towns.

 

“It has only grown in recent years to become, possibly, the biggest costume party in Europe,” Carrobles said.

 

Organisers say the atmosphere is generally good and that the event has not led to any conflictive interventions. “People come to have a good time,” the councillor said.

 

The Policía Local will close Gerona and Lepanto streets to traffic from around 11am to keep pedestrians and vehicles safe.

 

Extra Policía Nacional, Civil Protection and health service staff will also be deployed, working with the Ayuntamiento and participating businesses.

 

Carrobles acknowledged the complexity of organising security for such a large open-air event, particularly as crowds build up gradually throughout the day. He said the Ayuntamiento and event organisers have been coordinating plans with businesses and emergency services for several months.

 

Some visitors travel to Benidorm specifically for the Fancy Dress Party, while others extend their stay to enjoy the town before or after the event. Organisers hope this year’s edition will continue the growth seen in recent years.

 

“Every year we want it to keep growing, with more people coming from more different places, as is already happening,” said Navarro and Nieto.

 

 

Images: Ayuntamiento de Benidorm