Saturday July 5: Drums, drag and dancing – it’s Pride time in Los Montesinos

The town gets ready to celebrate love, equality and community with a joyful day of colour and music

Los Montesinos is getting ready to mark International LGBTI+ Pride Day with a proper splash of colour, music and community spirit on Saturday July 5... and everyone’s invited.

The celebration starts with a high-energy street parade, powered by the beat of a live batucada drumming group. Batucada is a lively, Brazilian-style percussion played by a group using different drums and bells to create a fast, infectious rhythm, a bit like samba, and it’s perfect for getting the party going and the crowd involved.

Once the parade winds its way through the town, the party keeps going into the evening. There’ll be a relaxed outdoor dinner, complete with bar service, drag queen shows and a live DJ spinning the tunes. The evening will also include a reading of the official Pride manifesto; a reminder that this is a day not only for fun, but for standing up for dignity, diversity and human rights.

Tables for the dinner can be booked through the Town Hall, and spaces are expected to fill up quickly.

Speaking ahead of the event, Natalie Dubi, Councilor for Equality, said: “Celebrating Pride Day in Los Montesinos is a clear demonstration of the municipality’s commitment to equality and the rights of all people. We want a town where everyone can express themselves freely, without fear of being who they want to be and loving who they want to love.”

Mayor José Manuel Butrón added: “Our goal is to promote a more inclusive and respectful society. We invite all citizens to participate in this commemoration, which seeks to highlight and support the LGBTQ+ community.”

Whether you’re a long-time supporter or joining Pride for the first time, this colourful and uplifting celebration promises a day of pride, protest and pure joy; from marching and dancing to dressing up or simply showing up in support. 

Image: Ayuntamiento de Los Montesinos