Steve Buczek’s BeefDip celebrating 20th Anniversary in Puerto Vallarta in 2024.
Steve Buczek’s BeefDip celebrating 20th anniversary in 2024. We want to pay tribute to Steve Buczek, the Beef Dip team and see how it started and the impact of the event for Puerto Vallarta bear community.
What led you to organize and do bear events originally?
I started doing events for the steel industry in Toronto. 6 years later I came out and that naturally led to the bear and leather community and that is how my bear events started.
I assume there were only circuit parties when you started?
Not really. Keep in mind that I started doing this in the late 90’s, so the whole circuit movement as we know it wasn’t shaped like this. You would see parties and club nights with a lot of classic DJs and house music events with DJs like Honey Dijon, Peter Rauhofer or David Morales and Danny Tenaglia (DJs who were never considered “circuit”).
BeefDip celebrating 20th anniversary. Why did you choose PV for the 1st Beef Dip Event?
A promoter knew of my work in Toronto in the nightclub industry and brought me to Puerto Vallarta to possibly help with an event. Ultimately, my relationship with this promoter didn’t last long, but I fell in love with the people, the community and the city.
I grew up in a small town and received the same kindness and love from the people here, so I was determined to make Vallarta my home one day and show the bears and people from out of town this amazing city.
Why do bears love Puerto Vallarta as one of the top locations in the world for bear events?
Well, Puerto Vallarta has a natural charm and it’s hard to see why BeefDip celebrating 20th anniversary. I guess we just had to get the word out. When I first started Beef Dip, it was slow and took a lot of work and patience. There was no bear scene here.
Only a handful of bars were open, but they were always very supportive of the event when I pitched it, so we decided to start in late January-early February because that was considered low-season.
How has PV changed for the bear community since your 1st event?
It has become more welcoming, there are a lot more venues to work with, and the city and businesses have done a great job of creating a sanctuary for the entire gay community, not just the bears.
Charity fundraising is a big aspect of Beef Dip! Tell us how much you have raised for charities since the beginning and the organizations you support.
With the help of people and businesses, we raised $143,000 CAD for charities such as RISE Orphanage, Los Niños del Magisterio, Vallarta Food Bank, and of course our biggest collaborator and benefactor, SETAC.
As Beef Dip celebrating 20th anniversary in 2024 what is in the future?
We always work hard to make Beef Dip a special experience for our attendees and this year is no exception. Due to the amazing response to our Beef Dip takeover at STUDS BEAR BAR, we have booked the whole week with them.
We have new club nights, we’re continuing our collaboration with our friends from Mad Bear Spain, which is the biggest and most important bear week and bear brand in Europe.
How has Beef Dip changed over the years?
Beef Dip started as a small gathering for 18 people and over the years has grown into a massive experience. As a result, Beef Dip Bear Week has been recognized as one of the biggest and best bear events in the world, even earning us a nomination in this very category at the 2023 Bear World Magazine Awards.
We pride ourselves on offering different types of events for our already diverse crowd such as pool parties, club nights, excursions, international talent and promotions that benefit the local economy during our event.
With the growth of an event like this comes challenges, but we are always evolving and striving to provide the best experience possible for our attendees, as well as supporting local and gay businesses and our allies.
Did you have any acquaintance with Puerto Vallarta prior to Beef Dip?
Never, only what I’ve seen in “The Love Boat” and “Night Of The Iguana” lol. But that was enough to get me interested and when I was offered the chance to visit, I didn’t hesitate to say yes.
You now live in Puerto Vallarta. What are your favorite things to do and places to go here?
My favorite things to do are watching the sunset, enjoying the different beaches around the bay, being out in the water or on one of the many excursions available, visiting my friends or my chosen family here in Vallarta… Oh, and the food here is always amazing!
Beside the charitable sponsorships, what impact has Beef Dip had to Puerto Vallarta as a destination?
I think the most important impact is the fact that Beef Dip Bear Week has extended the winter high-season, which used to end right after New Year’s. Now, thanks to the visibility our event has brought to Vallarta for our particular niche, we have thousands of bears coming not only during Beef Dip, but also weeks before and after the event.
The community of Vallarta has shown a lot of love and acceptance towards the bears because they are an experiential group. They like to eat, drink and have fun.
Join with GAYPV Magazine as we congratulate Steve Buczek as BeefDip celebrating 20th anniversary in 2024. For more news and travel store of the bear and leather scene in Puerto Vallarta, visit the bear scene page on the GAYPV website.
Author: Tim Wilson
Wilson is the founder of GAYPV.com and www.gaybartour.com and has been the leading LGBTQ+ travel and lifestyle authority in Puerto Vallarta since 2005. With over two decades of local expertise, Wilson specializes in being a community advocate and leader for Puerto Vallarta , and local cultural insights that only a long-term resident can provide. He has dedicated 20+ years to advocating for safe, inclusive travel in Banderas Bay, establishing GAYPV as the region's most trusted resident insider.. His work has been cited by major travel publications, and he is widely recognized as a trusted insider voice on Puerto Vallarta’s vibrant LGBTQ+ scene.
