Vallarta Pride 2018 will run from May 20 to 27 and celebrate the port’s 100th anniversary with the theme, “100 Reasons to Celebrate.”
Thousands of visitors flock to Vallarta for this annual event, whose highlight is the lively and colorful parade, scheduled for Thursday, May 24, 7 p.m.
The parade will start at the Hotel Sheraton Buganvilias, move on to the malecón and end on Calle Lázaro Cárdenas, where “La Fiesta en la Calle” block party with entertainment and fireworks will be held at 9 p.m. Special guests at the parade include Alejandra Bogue; Lorena Herrera, international recording artist and Grand Marshal of Vallarta Pride 2018; and Puerto Vallarta’s local ambassador, Hector Betancourt.
Other events include a free concert featuring Herrera at the Teatro Vallarta on Friday, May 25, and a Big Top Party at Top Sky Bar on the same day. There will also be an LGBT art walk on Wednesday, May 23, a beach gym, a casino night, a Drag Derby (bet on your favorite drag queen and support the Amapas Neighborhood Association), a foam pool party, a health fair, and a sunset “Wet and Wild Cruise.”
In addition, the Vallarta Pride International Film Festival will host several film screenings at different venues.
Pink & Proud hold a women-only party on Friday, May 25, and a girls-only cocktail party is scheduled at the Verona Bistro Bar on Saturday, May 26.
For more information, see the extensive English-language website, vallartapride.com.
Two marches organized by the LGBT community will precede the festival: On Thursday, May 17, the International March Against Homophobia will take place from 6-8 p.m., starting at the Hotel Sheraton Buganvilias and ending at Los Arcos in the downtown zone. And on Sunday, May 20, the International Sunset Memorial Candlelight March will be held. The march will start at the Hotel Rosita at 8 p.m. and proceed to Los Arcos.