It’s time to grab your bathing suits, shades and shot glasses: Winter Party Festival 2018 is coming to Miami Beach from February 28 to March 6. The famous, weeklong LGBTQ celebration will be hosting a wide array of parties and social events. Guests can kick start their week on March 1 at Score Nightclub’s Ignite party featuring DJs J. Warren and Phil Romano and enjoy a pre-beach party Beat the Heat brunch on March 4, complete with free coffee samples and bottomless mimosas.
Honoring their 25th anniversary, Winter Party will bring two of their major night events — Masterbeat Toy Factory and Forever Adventure — at the James L. Knight center, a multipurpose entertainment venue.
Looking for a deal on accomodations? Guests are encouraged to stay at Miami’s Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel, Winter Party’s official host hotel, which is conveniently located within walking distance of most of the weekend’s venues. The Kimpton Surfcomber is also hosting the popular event Under One Sun Pool Party, where DJ Joe Gauthreaux will keep the revelers dancing in and out of the pool.
Founded in 1994, Winter Party originally began when the event founders invited the LGBTQ community to come on down to a dance party on South Beach. Although the event was originally conceived as a one-day affair, Winter Party has since grown into a week’s worth of parties and celebrations for LGBTQ members and their allies to relax, have fun, and meet new people in a safe, nonjudgmental environment.
The event is not only a huge party, but it also manages to accomplish a greater good. The National LGBTQ Task Force, who produces Winter Party, uses it as a fundraising event. In 2016, they donated $275 thousand dollars to LGBTQ advocacy groups throughout South Florida. In July 2017, the Task Force donated a record-breaking $300,000. Since Winter Party was founded, $2.7 million dollars have been raised in total.
To learn how you can get tickets and more schedule information, see our event listing.
Want Metrosource LGBTQ content notifications? Sign up for MetroEspresso.
Last modified: February 14, 2019