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Schedule of Events for the National LGBTQ Task Force Winter Party Festival

PRESS RELEASE

  This Year’s 32nd Annual Festival Will Welcome Thousands of International Attendees to the Iconic South Florida Destination with theme “Dance is Revolution”

Photos made available for download from Winter Party Festival 2024: https://bit.ly/3DSvTHt   

Miami, Florida (February 24, 2025) The National LGBTQ Task Force’s Winter Party

Festival 2025 makes a splashy return to Miami Beach for its 32nd anniversary from February 26 – March 4, 2025. Winter Party is an annual dance and music festival featuring a week-long series of events benefiting local and national LGBTQ+ organizations. This year’s “Dance is Revolution” themed celebration features an eclectic mix of music, community programming, and entertainment that embodies the mantra, “Live free. Play hard. Give back.”

“With over 30 years of history raising critical funds for our community, this year’s festival is our most exciting to date,” Jason Hellinger, Winter Party Festival Co-Chair, said in a statement. “We’re bringing a world class DJ roster that includes the international talent you’ve come to expect, as well as fresh faces to shake up our lineup and continue evolving the sound of the festival. We want all of our guests to feel the love our volunteers put into the festival while dancing alongside your chosen family. Prepare for a dance revolution.”

The Winter Party Festival attracts over 10,000 attendees from around the globe each year. This year, the festival will feature more than 12 exciting events spread across 10 world-class venues in iconic Miami and Miami Beach — renowned for their vibrant energy and celebration. Guests will be treated to electrifying performances by international DJs including Micky Friedmann, Erik Vilar, Mor Avrahami, GSP & more. Winter Party Festival passes are now available HERE.

Founded in 1994, Winter Party provides a safe haven for the LGBTQ and allied communities to celebrate queer joy and live freely. The National LGBTQ Task Force donates a significant portion of the proceeds raised at Winter Party and its sister event, the National LGBTQ Task Force Gala, to like-minded community advocacy groups in South Florida through the LGBTQ+ Equity Fund, a philanthropic collaboration between the Task Force, Our Fund Foundation, and The Miami Foundation. Since 2005, the Task Force has given back more than $4 million and supported over 100 community organizations in South Florida; the Task Force also directly funds social justice causes locally and nationally.

“For those who’ve joined us before, you know this week-long symphony of music and movement is part of what unites us to celebrate, connect, and honor the joy that fuels our strength,” Kierra Johnson, President of the National LGBTQ Task Force, said in a statement. “We would be remiss not to highlight why the Winter Party Festival remains a thriving cornerstone of queer culture as one of the last remaining community owned circuit parties. Part of the answer lies in the very ground we gather upon. Florida — a state where hateful, anti-LGBTQ rhetoric is rampant and harmful policies are piloted — has become a testing ground for authoritarian strategies designed to suppress our existence. Historically, the policies that take root here are then exported to harm other communities.”

Guests are encouraged to reserve tickets to this year’s events, all designed to capture the energetic spirit that is Winter Party.

NOTEWORTHY TO THIS YEAR’S WINTER PARTY FESTIVAL:

  • Health partners Avita Pharmacy and Prevention 305 present the popular (and free!) community-building and networking event LOCALIZE on Thursday, Feb. 27
  • For Ignite on Thursday, Feb. 27, Winter Party will partner with Midnight Service — event producers whose ethos is rooted in the “religious experience” of dancing to good music. The night will feature DJ Dangerous Rose.
  • The National LGBTQ Task Force will honor community treasure Lisa Mercado at the VIP CocktailReception on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Standard Miami Beach. Mercado’s contributions have included being the only female co-chair of Winter Party Festival, working tirelessly for over a decade as a Task Force staff member, and serving as a board member and staff member of Pridelines.
  • The first of Winter Party’s signature daytime events Under One Sun will be held at the Sagamore pool on Saturday, March 1 with DJs Dawson and Deanne. This will be the first time this beloved event has been held at a pool since 2018.
  • Winter Party’s premier celebration on the sun-kissed sands of Miami Beach,

Beach Party, returns with DJs Micky Friedmann and Erik Vilar on Sunday, March 2. For the second year, the entrance to this year’s Beach Party will be at 10th Street, two blocks south of its traditional home.

The 32nd annual Winter Party Festival is made possible with support from the Miami Beach Visitor & Convention Authority, Miami-Dade County Tourism Development Council, and many additional sponsors and partners listed here. Media sponsors include Edge Media, equalpride, Hotspots! Magazine, Boi Magazine, Get Out! Magazine and more.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: 

 

WEDNESDAY, FEB 26, 2025 

WINTER PARTY OFFICIAL KICKOFF (FREE EVENT)

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

 Palace Bar & Restaurant

1052 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Link: https://winterparty.com/event/welcome-reception/

THURSDAY, FEB 27, 2025

LOCALIZE (FREE EVENT)

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. sponsored by Avita Pharmacy and Prevention

Twist

1057 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Link: https://winterparty.com/event/localize-2/ 

IGNITE (PRESENTED WITH MIDNIGHT SERVICE)

10:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. featuring DJs Dangerous Rose, Miguel Clark, Naim Zarzour

 MAD Live

55 NE 24th St, Miami, FL 33137

Link: https://winterparty.com/event/ignite/

 

FRIDAY, FEB 28, 2025

ELEVATE T-DANCE

2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. featuring DJs David Nazar & Danny Verde

 Palace Rooftop Pool

1052 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Link: https://winterparty.com/event/elevate/

VIP COCKTAIL RECEPTION

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. honoring Lisa Mercado

The Standard Miami Beach

40 Island Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Link: https://winterparty.com/event/vip-cocktail-reception/

HEAT (PRESENTED WITH HILTON WOLMAN)

10:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. featuring DJs Tom Stephan & David Tort

MAD Live

55 NE 24th St, Miami, FL 33137

Link: https://winterparty.com/event/heat/

SATURDAY, MAR 1, 2025

DRAG BRUNCH

11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

R House Wynwood

2727 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127

Link: https://winterparty.com/event/saturday-drag-brunch/

UNDER ONE SUN POOL PARTY (POWERED BY URGE WITH Q CARE)

1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. featuring DJs Dawson & Deanne

Sagamore South Beach

1671 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Link: https://winterparty.com/event/under-one-sun/

SHIPWRECKED (PRESENTED WITH MASTERBEAT)

10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. featuring: DJs Chus & Karsten Sollors

 M2 Nightclub

1235 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Link: https://winterparty.com/event/saturday-night/

CARNIVAL

10:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m. featuring: DJ J Warren

 Eagle Wilton Manors

2209 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors FL 33305

Link: https://winterparty.com/event/carnival/

SUNDAY MAR. 2, 2025

DRAG BRUNCH

11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

 R House Wynwood

2727 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127

Link: https://winterparty.com/event/sunday-drag-brunch/

THE BEACH PARTY

1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. featuring DJs Micky Friedmann & Erik Vilar

 Sands of South Beach at 10th Street

1001 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Link: https://winterparty.com/event/the-beach-party/

 

GRAFFITI (PRESENTED WITH MASTERBEAT)

10:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. featuring DJs Mor Avrahami & GSP

M2 Nightclub

1235 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Link: https://winterparty.com/event/sunday-night/

 

MONDAY, MAR 3, 2025

AFTERGLOW (PRESENTED WITH HILTON WOLMAN)

5:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. featuring: DJ Jerac

Paraiso Estereo

1306 North Miami Avenue

Miami, FL 33136

Link: https://winterparty.com/event/afterglow/

 

ACTION! FINALE

10:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. featuring: DJs Alex Acosta, Joshua Ruiz, Gabo Montero

 Palenque Nightclub

1115 NW 22nd Ave

Miami, FL 33125

Link: https://winterparty.com/event/finale/

 About the National LGBTQ Task Force: 

The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people. We are building a future where everyone can be free to be their entire selves in every aspect of their lives. Today, despite all the progress we’ve made to end discrimination, millions of LGBTQ people face barriers in every aspect of their lives: in housing, employment, healthcare, retirement, and basic human rights. These barriers must go. That’s why the Task Force is training and mobilizing millions of activists across our nation to deliver a world where you can be you. For more information, go to https://www.thetaskforce.org

Media Contacts:

Cathy Renna, Communications Director, National LGBTQ Task Force crenna@thetaskforce.org

 Alexander Kacala, Communications Consultant, Winter Party Festival alexander@winterparty.com

215.617.6799

Individual event tickets and event passes are available HERE.

Press credentials are given out as space provides. If you would like to attend as media, email alexander@winterparty.com.