Discovering Paradise
Discovering Paradise
An inclusive LGBTQ+ festival of beach parties and boat trips
Type
Cultural
When
9 – 10
Duration
Several days
Location
Willemstad
Cost
Some gatherings are open; signature parties, boat trips, and dinners are ticketed.
Frequency
Annual
Attendance
Thousands of visitors across the multi-day programme
Family Friendly
No
First Held
An established annual LGBTQ+ festival on the island
Local Name
Curaçao Pride
Best Arrival
Arrive at the start of the festival window to catch the full multi-day programme
What to Wear
Beachwear and light party clothes; sun protection for daytime events on the water
Curaçao Pride is the island's annual LGBTQ+ festival, typically held in late September or October. It has built a reputation as one of the more relaxed and welcoming Pride events in the Caribbean, leaning into Curaçao's easygoing, open atmosphere rather than a single big-city march. The result is a multi-day programme that mixes daytime fun with night-time celebration.
The schedule changes year to year but usually combines beach parties, boat trips and sunset cruises, pool and club nights, dinners, and social meet-ups, set against the calm, clear water of the leeward coast. Much of the action gravitates to the resort and beach areas, with parties and gatherings in and around Willemstad.
It is a friendly, sun-soaked alternative to the bigger global Prides. Book accommodation early, as the festival fills popular spots, and choose a base near Jan Thiel or Willemstad for easy access to the parties and the beaches. Buy passes for ticketed events in advance, and check the year's official programme for the exact line-up.
When
Usually late September into October; dates set each year
Duration: Several days
Location
Beach clubs, boats, and venues around Willemstad and the south coast, Willemstad
Jan Thiel
Cost
Some gatherings are open; signature parties, boat trips, and dinners are ticketed.