Benalmadena Christmas SHOCKER! Drag Shows & Bar Crawls Take Over?!

Forget sugar plums and reindeer games – Benalmadena is giving Christmas a grown-up makeover this year. The Spanish coastal town is trading milk and cookies for cocktails and carousing, offering a decidedly more…glamorous take on the holiday season. I've covered a lot of Christmas events over the years, but this sounds like a particularly fun and, dare I say, refreshing approach.

Benalmadena Christmas SHOCKER! Drag Shows & Bar Cr...

The sparkling centerpiece of this festive adult playground is undoubtedly Minnelli's drag cabaret bar. This Friday and Saturday, December 5th and 6th, starting at 7 PM, Minnelli's is launching its Christmas season with a bang – a Christmas show weekender featuring the fabulous Spice, the regal King Key, and the entire Minnelli family. From what I hear, Alopecia Keys will be personally greeting guests at the door each night, which promises a warm (and stylish!) welcome. The theme? Pure fun and sparkle. If you're looking for an immersive and intimate drag experience to kick off your holiday celebrations, this sounds like it. Details and tickets can be found at minnellis.com or by searching "Minnelli's" on social media. Get ready for some serious glitter!

But the festive fun doesn't stop there. Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 13th, because the annual "12 Bars of Christmas" fancy dress bar crawl is back, kicking off at 1 PM from The Hole In The Wall Bar in Arroyo de la Miel. Now, this is where things get really interesting. Participants are urged to unleash their inner elf (or reindeer, or snowman – the more creative, the better!) and dress to impress as they navigate the bars across Arroyo de la Miel. I can already picture the hilarious costumes!

Each bar along the route will be hosting a raffle with prizes generously donated by the owners – with strips available for a mere €1. The grand finale? A final raffle at the last bar featuring all the gifts, bottles, and vouchers donated by participants. Bars are also promising free snacks, tapas, shots, and, of course, plenty of festive vibes. While the little ones will have to sit this one out, the crawl includes games, raffles, and a collection to support a local family. A good cause and a good time – can’t beat that! For more information and the full route, search “The Hole in the Wall, Benalmadena” on Facebook.

Benalmadena is clearly proving that Christmas isn't just for kids anymore. Whether you're envisioning yourself crawling between bars in a spectacularly silly festive outfit or enjoying a glittering night of live entertainment that only drag queens can deliver, this Spanish town is offering plenty of ways for adults to embrace the holiday spirit. This editor, for one, is seriously tempted to book a flight!