Benidorm Fancy Dress Party events on the Costa Blanca

Benidorm Fancy Dress Party, big party all over the city.

Spaniards love to have fun; just visit any more or less popular place where residents gather, and you will soon find that it won’t be long before people start dancing, singing, and having a great time – that’s the hot Iberian spirit.

Party-loving Brits, enthusiastic Germans, slightly quirky Scandinavians, and all the rest, holidaying on the Costa Blanca, are not far behind the Spaniards.

During our journey along the Costa Blanca coast, we arrived at the popular resort of Benidorm, where the famous Fiestas Mayores Patronales were in full swing. This event is held every year in honour of the patron saints of Benidorm – Virgen del Sufragio and San Jaime.

Fiestas Mayores Patronales celebration in Benidorm

The Fiestas Mayores Patronales in Benidorm is an incredibly important celebration for the city’s residents. It takes place every year and lasts for five consecutive days. It always begins on the second weekend of November and concludes on the following Wednesday.

Traditional festivities in honour of the patrons of Benidorm commence on the main beach and then move to the old town. The event is a religious celebration, so throughout the city, there are blessings, processions, masses, and pilgrims arriving from all parts of the country.

The history of the Fiestas Mayores Patronales de Benidorm holiday

The history of the Fiestas Mayores Patronales dates back to the year 1740 when, on the beach in Benidorm, which was then just a small fishing village, an empty boat was found after a severe storm. The only item found in it was an old painting of Our Lady of Sufragio. The village elders ordered the boat and its contents to be burned, as they suspected it came from one of the plague-stricken ships that were prevalent in the waters near the Spanish coast at that time.

Ultimately, fearing disease, the boat was burned, but a few children secretly stole the holy painting and carried it to a nearby hill, where they dug a small pit for it. This makeshift shrine became a popular place of worship, and over time, a beautiful chapel and later a church were built in its place.

Since then, the residents of Benidorm consider Our Lady of Sufragio and Saint James the Apostle, the patron saint of all of Spain, as their patrons.

Benidorm during the fiesta

During the Fiestas Mayores Patronales in Benidorm, there are festivities, gatherings, concerts, and a whole array of traditional cultural events. However, with each passing day, the character of the fiesta slowly changes, and dancers take to the streets while colourful parades emerge.

Eventually, Fiestas Mayores Patronales loses its initial religious character and transforms into a lively and joyous celebration, where young people dance in the streets to the rhythm of fiery Spanish music. At the same time, most restaurants serve traditional small snacks, known as tapas, and alcohol begins to flow freely.

The main attraction of the fiesta in Benidorm is the grand parade and masquerade procession, and to conclude the celebration, spectacular fireworks displays are organized.

Benidorm Fancy Dress Party, huge masquerade ball and colourful madness

Fiestas Mayores Patronales is not the only colourful and lively celebration in Benidorm during this time of the year. Right after the conclusion of the city’s festival, the Fancy Dress Party kicks off.

The history of the Benidorm Fancy Dress Party began 25 years ago when a popular half-marathon was organized in Benidorm, held every year on either the 17th or 26th of November. This sporting event attracted many Brits, who enthusiastically participated in the race along the beaches and streets of Benidorm.

After the conclusion of the sporting part of the event, British runners would gather on the outdoor terrace of the Ambassador Playa hotel to share their achievements and celebrate their athletic results. The festivities usually extended well into the morning of the next day, and the Rincon de Loix district in Benidorm became its symbol. As the sporting event coincided with the local festival, the two events quickly merged.

The joyous celebration began to attract increasingly larger crowds of British tourists. The owner of a local pub named Morgan Tavern (named after the famous Welsh pirate Captain Morgan, whom we wrote about in the article on pirates) decided to capitalize on it.

He announced that anyone who came to his pub on that particular day dressed in a funny costume would receive a free drink. The marketing move paid off, as so many people crowded into the venue that it was reportedly impossible to squeeze in a finger.

Of course, today, no one can count on a free drink at Morgan Tavern. If it were otherwise, the owner would have to close the business and spend the rest of his life worrying about repaying debts, as the event attracts over 30,000 people from Spain and all over Europe every year.

Recently, the main sponsors of the Benidorm Fancy Dress Party have been Morgan Tavern, Western Saloon, and Hotel California. Besides, the event no longer lasts for just one night, as it did in its early days. Currently, the party begins on November 11th and concludes on November 20th.

To participate in the fun, the only requirement is to dress up in a funny and preferably colourful costume. Walking the streets of Benidorm during the event, I came to the conclusion that human imagination knows no bounds, and people are willing to put on literally anything for the sake of fun.

Moreover, various games and contests take place in the city every day. Traditionally, there is the selection of the prettiest and funniest costume, as well as the most beautiful participant. At the same time, concerts, parades, the frying of a massive paella, and the preparation of a giant barbecue occur throughout the city.

The entire city resonates with music and laughter, and all the pubs remain open until the early hours of the next day. Bars and restaurants tempt participants with cheap drinks and snacks, which guests eagerly and without hesitation take advantage of.

Benidorm fiesta and Fancy Dress Party facts and information

• The history of Fiestas Mayores Patronales in Benidorm dates back to 1740, and this annual event has been taking place for hundreds of years.
• The Benidorm Fiesta was cancelled only once in 2020 due to restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
• One of the more entertaining events that occurs at the same time as Fiestas Mayores Patronales is the Fancy Dress Party.
• The Fancy Dress Party has been organized since the late ’90s. Initially, it was mainly attended by the British, but tourists from other European countries quickly adopted the rules. Nowadays, at the end of November, people in costumes from many countries stroll through the streets of Benidorm, although the British still stand out the most.
• Currently, the event attracts 35 thousand people annually.
• The sponsors of the event are usually local bars and entertainment companies.
• The only permanent sponsor and organizer of the street masquerade ball in Benidorm is the Morgan Tavern pub (run in a pirate atmosphere). Recently, The Western Saloon (a saloon-style pub from the Wild West) and Hotel California have joined as well.
• During the party, various events, games, and activities are organized. This year, the most interesting was the preparation of a massive BBQ by The Western Saloon, from which food was distributed for free to party participants. Similarly, at Morgan Tavern, a massive paella was cooked and also distributed for free. The only criterion to meet for receiving a free portion of a delicious dish was to come in a costume.
• A fascinating event during each Fancy Dress Party is the parade of local businesses and entertainment venues in the city. Each group dresses up in costumes and prepares a repertoire associated with popular movies, game characters, or famous events. This year, you could see characters from Star Wars, flamenco dancers, Game of Thrones characters, and many other representatives of pop culture. I’ll just add that participants in the festivities often appear in rather revealing and provocative costumes.
• Other interesting places on the Costa Blanca are:

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