Winter Party Festival

At the 2025 Winter Party Festival, the vibrant beats of music, the allure of dance and the spirit of the LGBTQ+ community will converge in a celebration of diversity and unity. Across Greater Miami & Miami Beach, this annual queer music extravaganza will take place from Wednesday, February 26 through Tuesday, March 4. Get ready to party for a good cause as the warmth of the winter sun meets the boundless energy of an inclusive and spirited community.

A Storied History

In its inaugural year of 1994, the Winter Party Festival made its debut as a modest, single-day dance affair in Miami Beach. Evolving over time, this once-intimate gathering has blossomed into a seven-day celebration featuring numerous diverse events that collectively have raised millions of dollars for LGBTQ+ causes. Spearheaded by the National LGBTQ Task Force, the festival is more than a celebration. It’s a meaningful show of support. The organization allocates a substantial portion of the funds garnered during the festival to community advocacy groups in South Florida. Since 2005, the Task Force has disbursed over $3.3 million through the LGBTQ+ Equity Fund, extending its reach to support nearly 90 community organizations across South Florida.

Read on for a recap of the 2024 Winter Party Festival

Stay & Play at the Winter Party Festival's Host Hotel

The Winter Party Festival will once again return to Royal Palm South Beach Miami, the official host hotel. Located in the heart of South Beach, the Royal Palm is an iconic, 1930s Art Deco hotel just steps away from the beach.

The hotel and festival event venues are near many dining options. A few blocks away is South Beach Food Hall. For a more-elegant affair, check out Byblos Miami, a Mediterranean restaurant in an upscale and colorful dining space, and Rao’s Miami Beach, a renowned Italian restaurant located in the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. For a late-night snack, two favorites among locals are La Sandwicherie South Beach and Cheese Burger Baby. And, of course, one can’t leave South Beach without experiencing Palace Bar & Restaurant’s legendary drag brunches.

Dance Parties All Week Long

The first major dance party of the festival is Ignite on Thursday, February 29, featuring sounds by DJ Dawson and DJ Leanh. On Friday, March 1, the action heats up Royal Palm South Beach’s pool with the Elevate Pool Party. Later that evening, DJ Deanne and Eddie Martinez will bring the heat to HEAT, produced by Hilton Wolman Events.

On Saturday, March 2, the party continues in Miami’s eclectic Wynwood arts district with the Under One Sun day party. Featuring DJs Jace M and Derrick Carter, the party (with state-of-the-art production) will take place at Oasis Wynwood, a colorful outdoor event venue. Winter Party and gay dance party producer Masterbeat are joining forces on Saturday evening for an all-night dance extravaganza and then again on Sunday night for a dance party featuring two superstar DJs. Want to keep the party going? Hilton Wolman Events will present the Afterglow after-hours party starting at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, March 4. House music DJ Tom Stephan will create a unique dance floor experience complete with a New York after-hours vibe. The festival concludes on Monday evening with Action! Finale.

The Beach Party

The marquee event and crown jewel of Winter Party Festival is The Beach Party on the beach off of 12th Street and Ocean Drive. From 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, expect impressive production, a massive dance floor and uplifting dance music in back-to-back sets by DJ GSP and DJ Dan Slater. Make your experience extra special with a private cabana featuring a view of the party below. Pro-tip: Be there before sunset for a magical dancing-at-dusk moment.

Additional Experiences and Ticket Options

In addition to the larger dance events, there will also be a number of smaller, intimate events, including a VIP cocktail reception.

Individual event tickets and festival passes are available. Some festival passes include access to every event.

By: Gino R. Campodónico | December 20, 2023