Parties Amsterdam gay pride 2012
Gay parties and events
The week before the Amsterdam Gay Pride weekend, many events will happen all over town, both cultural or sportive, or some smaller parties. But the real festivities kick off during the last weekend, with the Canal Parade on Saturday. Below is a list of parties probably taking place, because every year it's about the same:
Friday 5 August
First real party night of the Pride weekend. Tonight the big gay street parties will take start at the Reguliersdwarsstraat (Young / trendy) and Amstel (Dutch), Westermarkt featuring the hilarious Drag Queen Olympics, the central Rembrandtplein and Paardenstraat (Women).
The main parties Friday night are SuperMartXe in club Air, a Dance and cruise party in Club Fuxxx, (Z)onderbroek, the popular underwear party in Club Church, the womens party Girlesque and the Club Dirty Boys cruise party.
Saturday 6 August
The highlight of the Amsterdam Gay Pride weekend is the famous Canal Parade on Saturday afternoon. Where most parades use trucks, Amsterdam has boats! 75 spectacular decorated boats with beautiful boys and girls will sail from 14:00 till 18:00 through the Prinsengracht and Amstel river. The gay parade is watched by 500.000 spectators every year.
Saturday parties and events
Next to the same gay streetparties as Friday, which start already early afternoon, Saturday night is party night. In 2011 the largest main party will be Rapido XL Experience at the Heineken Music Hall (HMH) with a capacity of over 4000 people.
In the Melkweg there will be the famous White Party (featuring Deborah Cox), and in club Air another party by Rapido Events: Celebrate. For bear lovers there is Bear Necessity at Odeon Theater. Danserette is the always sold out poppie party, with a young crowd, like U.L.T.R.A.S.E.X.Y. at Paradiso this night.
Sunday 7 August
Today is closing day. The traditional Pride Closing Party - the year at the Rembrandtplein - takes place late in the afternoon and early in the evening with many Dutch artists and DJ's. It's a mixed gay crowd, trying to survive the hangover and celebrating the last day of the Amsterdam gay pride.
Sunday parties and events
The weekends highlight for the party boys is circuit party Rapido at Paradiso which starts in the afternoon, and is always sold out months before the event. It lasts till 2 at night and if you did not get enough of booze, boys and beats, you can go to the Rapido After.
