BEAR WITNESS

Mad Bear’s annual winter gathering of larger, hirsute men and their admirers takes place between 3 and 9 December in Madrid. With the event encompassing two national holidays, many Spaniards take the whole week off and take to the capital’s streets. Last year, about 4,000 people turned up. The seven- day celebration includes fiestas, club parties, dinners, the Mr Bear Spain competition, and other cultural events in Chueca, Madrid’s gay neighbourhood.