Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Organizers, sponsors, participants and PV's LGBT community were pleased with the acceptance and success of what was the city's second Gay Pride Festival. Around 8000 tourists and locals enjoyed a long weekend of colorful events hosted by a variety of businesses in the iconic Romantic Zone, Vallarta's most popular gay district.

Vallarta Pride 2014, which ran from Thursday, May 22nd through Monday, May 26th with assistance from the municipal government, gave an economic boost to neighborhood hotels, beach clubs, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.

According to Committee Member William Hevener, "Vallarta Pride 2014 was an amazing success. All of the hotels in the area were reporting that they were completely booked or 75 percent booked. Overall, the most important thing is that people had fun in Vallarta and the community was able to come together and really enjoy each other and our guests."

The 5-day event was a grand celebration of diversity, which kicked off on Thursday with an official cocktail opening party at the new and stylish Mantamar Beach Club Bar and Grill.

A jam packed Friday included two performances by the Puerto Vallarta Men's Choir at the ACT II Stages entertainment complex. The screening of the documentary "Feel the Pride," which details the local history of the LGBT community in Puerto Vallarta, was also shown there. After the show, a candlelight march from Stages to Los Muertos Pier took place.

Later that night a sold out crowd of about 300 were dazzled by the infamous Alejandra Bogue at the upscale boutique hotel, Casa Cupula, and 'Pink and Proud' an exclusive party for women only at El Arrayán Restaurant.

On Saturday morning, Lido Beach Club hosted a same-sex commitment ceremony with 6 couples saying their vows to each other in a symbolic event witnessed by around 40 attendees.

Early Saturday evening, around 3000 people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the over 50 decorated vehicles, floats and extravagantly costumed groups that were part of the 2014 Vallarta Pride Parade, which marched from the Sheraton Hotel to Lázaro Cárdenas Park.

The park was transformed into an entertainment venue and showcased a two hour musical event, hosted by Alejandra Bogue. There was also a DJ keeping things hopping, various food stands, a photo exhibit, community organization booths and plenty of mingling. Though the party in the park ended at 11 pm, the fun went on until dawn at neighborhood bars and nightclubs.

Sunday afternoon's "Vamos al Mar" fashion show at the Blue Chairs Beach Club, followed by the closing party at Mantamar Beach Club Bar & Grill, wrapped up the 2014 festivities.

The Vallarta Pride committee is already thinking about 2015. "Our goal for next year is to start planning earlier," says Hevener, "the lesson learned was that it is a year long and involved process. This is our second year, and there's always room for improvement in any event that you do, but the committee was extremely pleased by the outcome."