Travel: The best value summer festivals and events in Benidorm
Benidorm remains one of the UK’s favourite holiday destinations welcoming more than 1.5 million UK visitors, growing year on year. With a friendly vibe in a stunning Mediterranean setting, the resort not only hosts some of Europe’s best summer festivals, but they are great value options too.
The Low Cost Festival 26 – 28 July is now in its 5th year and firmly on the map of Europe’s most popular festival must-do’s with 60,000 attendees last year. Pleasingly low prices, as the name suggests with 3 day tickets from €42 at a great venue, it’s a snip and brings in the big hitters on the music scene with an impressive line-up for this summer, including Belle & Sebastian, Crystal Castler, Two Door Cinema Club, Delorentos, Monarchy, Toy, Fangoria, Los Enemigos, Dorian, !! (Chk Chk Chk), Digitalism, Veronica Falls, Portishead, Glasvegas, Headbirds, Simian Mobile Disco DJ Set, GoMad! & Monster, Les Castizos). Visitors will be pleased to learn that it’s also one of Europe’s most environmentally-friendly festivals with a VVO certificate for its environmental efforts, so you can party in the knowledge that your credentials are green!
The Electrobeach Festival 16 – 17 August is another great value event that has proved a huge success with visitors. It features two of the most important artists on the international scene: Carl Cox and Cristian Varela with Nicole Mouldaber, Bushwaka! and John Rundell. Besides the superb music on offer, the open air stage of Terra Mitica Theme park boasts a spectacular location in the hills overlooking Benidorm – views are thrown in for free!
Cristian Varela, a benchmark in techno music since the late 90’s, and legendary Jeff Mills and DJ Fatima Hajjise are included in a very promising line up. Tickets are on sale at 30 Euros for a limited series for both days.
Benidorm Pride 8 – 15 September 2013
The 3rd annual Benidorm Pride promises to be bigger, better and more colourful than ever, with a week long programme of festival fun alongside art, cultural, sporting events and a host of great parties of course, at venues throughout the town. Pride Week starts with an opening party at Paradise Disco on 7th September, followed by an unmissable boat party on 8th. The fun carnival atmosphere culminates in the main Parade on Saturday 14th with events running all night into the afterparty on Sunday and a wrap up Tapas Party in the town centre that afternoon.
Benidorm’s LGBT Committee works alongside the Benidorm Tourist Board and other partners to organise the Pride and Cultural Week of activities which includes exhibitions, live broadcasts and a host of music, dance and guest DJs, including DJ Elektra and Ross Alexander, creating a really special atmosphere for locals and visitors alike. See more information on the programme, ticket sales (party events, discos and boat parties 10€ at www.benidormpride.com/en/events/the-boat-partyand www.facebook.com/orgullogay.benidorm).
The ‘Nights at the Castle’ is a popular programme of craft fairs, artists and musicians which runs through the summer from 1st July to 30th September at Plaza Castelar, Plaza Santa Ana and La Senoria. This year there are 15 artists located throughout the town and beach areas with local artisan stalls offering ítems from pottery to precious stones , alongside hour long participatory workshops throughout July . Musical performances will take place at Plaza Santa Ana from 20.30 – 23.30.
Terra Mitica, one of 5 excellent theme parks in Benidorm, has opened a new free section for the summer season 2013! Iberia Park is a new playground area adjoining the theme park with free entrance and pay as you go rides. It hosts more than a dozen attractions, restaurants and entertainment such as ‘The Pirates of the Caribbean’ , a colourful pirate show; and The Magic Experience, a new magic show a featuring Jorge Moreno. See https://www.terramiticapark.com/upload/novedades/27620131015323_IberiaPark_folleto_web.pdf
Visitors enjoying the wide programme of events this summer and autumn will be spoiled for choice with an excellent range of accommodation from Budget options, well equipped camp sites, to 4* Hotels and 5* golf resorts and boutique properties, there’s something to suit every taste and Budget. Just 45 kms from Alicante airport and 140 kms from Valencia, both are served by major tour operators and low-cost flights from most UK airports.
Visit www.en.visitbenidorm.es/ver/680/Eventos.html for more details on this year’s festival programme as well as general information on the resort, and also www.facebook.com/visitbenidormfor more details and local tips.
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