Maricongelada: Andorra Debuts LGBTQ+ Winter Festival
The first Maricongelada winter festival for the LGBTQ+ community launches in Andorra's Pas de la Casa from December 12-15, blending skiing, spa.
Key Points
- Debuts Dec 12-15 in Pas de la Casa with skiing, snowshoe hikes, snowmobiles, Caldea spa, games, live music, and drag shows.
- Expects 200 full-package participants (hotel, meals, activities) plus 50 day passes from Barcelona-based Gardyn.
- Launched 3 years ago in Spain to foster safe social connections; now expanding to make Andorra an LGBTQ+ winter tourism benchmark.
- Focuses on community building and normalizing LGBTQ+ presence to shift perceptions and promote inclusion.
The Maricongelada winter festival for the LGBTQ+ community is set to debut in Andorra this month, from December 12 to 15, as organizers aim to establish the Principat as a key destination for winter tourism among the group.
Hosted at Pas de la Casa, the event mixes skiing, snowshoe hikes, snowmobile outings, visits to the capital and Caldea spa, along with team games in the afternoons and evening entertainment featuring live music, contests, and drag queen shows. Organizers from Barcelona-based company Gardyn expect around 200 participants in the full package, which includes shared hotel stays, meals, and activities, plus another 50 for day passes alone, with more tickets anticipated.
Marc Rivera, one of the organizers, said the initiative launched three years ago to offer alternatives to dating apps and create safe spaces for natural social connections. After two editions in Molina, the team chose Andorra to expand internationally. "It is a first step, and we would love to turn Andorra into a European benchmark for LGBTQ+ winter tourism," Rivera noted, envisioning it evolving into a full "Winter Pride" in the long term.
The festival prioritizes community building and safe expression beyond partying. Organizers emphasize normalizing LGBTQ+ presence across all areas of life, acknowledging lingering reservations but arguing that repeated events help shift perceptions and foster inclusion. They report a positive reception so far, with strong participation numbers.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: