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In Sitges, at the Costa Dorada, approx. 40km southwest of Barcelona, the Carnival of Stiges is celebrated every year. This is a unique celebration at which more than 250.000 people are expected.

This celebration orients oneself by the curch calender and is especially know in the gay community. This year the festivities start on 11 February 2010, Thurday before Ash Wednesday. The people from Sitges at the Costa Dorada expect many tourist from around the world, that usually live on one of the Costa Dorada Hotels or Costa Dorada apartments.

The reason for the "Carnival de Sitges" was the midwinter that the Romans had already celebrated many years ago. Between the late 30s and eyrly 80s, the carnival has even been forbidden by the Spanish government. Meanwhile, the festivities have returned to the Costa Dorada without losing its unique allurement.

The solemmities are known for the colourful and fancy costumes. It reminds some people even of the famous Carnival de Rio de Janeiro. The parade usually passes the whole city with its unique congeniality caused by the masks and costumes.

At the beginning, ther is a huge party in the middle of the city to celebrate the arrival of king "Carnestoltes". In addition to that, there is a separate gay carnival that offers special event such as the Tourist Night, Miss Organic, Glamour Night, Carnival Bingo, Cabaret/Roman Circus and the Prizes Night.

The dragqueens, in particular, are the eyecatcher during the celebration. Besides celebrating and disguising oneself, there is also the Spanish cuisine, which attracts a lot of tourists and local citizens. A lot of bars and clubs will be open during the carnival celebartion. Moreover, there will even be laser shows and fireworks.

The carnival de Sitges ends on Ash Wednesday with the historic fight between the king and his queen against the "Ghost of the Lent". Part of that historic ritual is also the transport of the defeated king and his queen to the beach, where they will rise from the dead the next year. In the end, there is the celebration called "El Entierro de Sardina", which symbolizes the end of the "good times".