4th Thessaloniki Pride

4th Thessaloniki Pride | 20-21.06.15

Proud Thessaloniki: A city of many colors
On 19 and 20 June 2015 rainbow hues shine over Thessaloniki inviting visitors to feel the vibe

Click here to see the full programme…

Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, with a past of cosmopolitan regional metropolis is becoming a trending destination for tourists. The strong regional character of Northern Greece makes the city an important commercial and cultural hub, a kind of regional capital. This local distinctiveness, combined with the long history and the regional influence, is something that Thessaloniki’s citizens take pride in. So does its LGBT community, especially every June since 2012, when the first ever Thessaloniki LGBT pride festival took place.

Back then Thessaloniki was considered, in Greek collective consciousness, as a traditional and quite introvert city. Its recent history, dominated by conservative local leaders, did not leave much space for optimism. Yet, from the very first Thessaloniki Pride participation the LGBT community was filled with self-confidence that silenced their oppressors. Since then, Thessaloniki has been a welcoming environment for the budding LGBT community.

In the meantime Thessaloniki Pride, as an all-fresh and established event of the city, has grown immensely. The program touches upon current and trending issues, and includes a variety of activities that successfully joins thousands of people in what is the city’s biggest human rights festival resulting in a fiesta both locales and visitors can enjoy. The specific character of Thessaloniki guarantees the perfect mixture of cheerful festivity and protest of local mentality while simultaneously allowing the safe immersion of the Balkans and the Mediterranean.

The program of the 4th Thessaloniki Pride is designed to combine various facets of the city to remain true to the mission statement of the festival. On Friday, June 19, figures from the political and the civil society engage in public debate at the Pride Forum, as it all leads up to a street party in the epicenter of the city’s nightlife. On the next day, Saturday, June 20, the festival moves to the most popular summertime promenade by the waterfront of the city.

There it meets with the social life, but also with the history of the city, as the White Tower, Thessaloniki’s most recognizable landmark, dating back to the Ottoman times, dominates the area. After the sun sets, this landmark of the city is illuminated in the colors of the rainbow, creating a rare and spectacular view. At the peak of the festival, the parade crosses through some of the most central areas of the city, including the Tsimiski high street and the waterfront promenade. After the parade returns, the festival continues with performances by various singers, representing different genres of music.

This year, Thessaloniki Pride is also framed by a major art event. The city’s Biennale of Contemporary Art has included Ident-alter-ity, as its LGBT segment. Artists from all over the world, whose work on gender and sexuality, will be showcased in a visual art exhibition at the renowned New City Hall. Ident-alter-ity will last from 17 June to 28 July 2015.

Thessaloniki and its pride festival make the perfect destination for weekend travelers, but also for visitors who want to spend more time exploring this prominent urban center. The city and its vicinity can satisfy all tastes. In the very commercial center of the city you can visit remarkable sights dating back to the pre-Christian ages, and covering the history of three different Empires, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and also the Ottoman Empire, and illustrating the multicultural background of the city through the times. Furthermore, Thessaloniki meets up the expectations of all those who want to experience the world-famous Greek nightlife, be it local or international style. If you’re looking for a relaxed vacation, you can just lay back and enjoy the coffee culture of the city, as well as its numerous and delicious options. A one hour drive from Thessaloniki brings you to the magnificent beaches of Chalkidiki, the summertime paradise of Northern Greece. Mount Olympus, the ‘home of Gods’, and other eco- and agro-touristic destinations are also within a range of 120km from Thessaloniki. So is the extraordinary monastic state of Mount Athos. The vivid gay scene of the city with several gay bars and clubs, as well as Thessaloniki Pride itself, completes the picture, adding the LGBT segment to its touristic industry.

Thessaloniki and the fourth edition of its fresh and promising pride event on 19-20 June invite you to join the most dynamic and ambitious pride festival of Southeastern Europe and experience the Balkan mentality and culture in a safe environment in Northern Greece. Come celebrate with us!

Click here to see the full programme…