Winter Party Festival

The Miami winter is always hospitable. Warm breezes and pleasant afternoons beckon anyyone looking to escape the post-holiday cold. That’s why the National LGBT Task Force picked Miami to host its first-ever Winter Party Festival back in 1994, a one-day dance music event in Miami Beach. In the 30 years that followed, the Winter Party Festival has become one of the biggest events of the year for the LGBTQ+ community, drawing thousands to Greater Miami & Miami Beach for a full week of music, dancing and celebration. Winter Party Festival 2025 will run from February 26 to March 4, raising money for the foundation’s work.

Schedule of events

Winter Party Festival 2025 will include nine events in venues around the city, from the sparkling sands of Miami Beach to some of the city’s hottest nightclubs. Some venues are still to be determined, so check back frequently for more information.

February 27

Ignite

Ignite, the festival’s traditional opening event, will start at 10 p.m., with DJs and venues to be announced. Typically, it’s an all-night dance party where attendees can scope out who else has come to Miami and dance until the sun comes up. Tickets are $24.95.

February 28

Elevate Pool Party

The daytime adventures will begin with the Elevate Pool Party, the festival’s first daytime outdoor bash, from 1–7 p.m. The venue and entertainment are yet to be announced.

HEAT

HEAT  not to be confused with Miami’s NBA team, is Friday night’s massive dance party, starting at 10 p.m. and not ending until the crowd decides to go home. This year’s lineup promises to be one of the best in Winter Party history, bringing two of the biggest names in Tech House to a to-be-determined location. Renowned DJ Tom Stephan will be joined by Spanish superstar David Tort for a night of high-energy sets that’ll set the tone for the weekend. The duo previously collaborated on “The Music is With Me.” Early bird tickets are $82.95 for general admission and $137.95 for VIP.

March 1

Under One Sun

After taking place in Wynwood, Saturday’s daytime pool party Under One Sun is returning to South Beach for 2025. The venue and lineup are still to be announced, but the party will start at noon and go until 7 p.m. Early bird tickets are $82.95 for general admission and $132.95 for VIP.

Saturday Night Party

The Winter Party Festival reaches a crescendo with the Saturday Night Party at M2 Nightclub in South Beach, produced in conjunction with Masterbeat. Canadian Chicago House master Karsten Sollers will once again share the stage with Chus (of Chus and Ceballos fame) beginning at 10 p.m. Early bird tickets start at $102.95 for general admission and $164.95 for VIP.

March 2

The Beach Party

The Winter Party Festival’s most iconic event is the Sunday Beach Party, a callback to the festival’s roots as a single-day dance party on the beach. This year’s celebration will be headlined by Erik Villar and Mickey Friedman, who’ll command the stage from 1-8 p.m. on the beach near 10th street. There’ll be exclusive cabana rentals, so you and your crew can post up in the shade with air-conditioned restrooms and stunning views of the party and the ocean. Early bird tickets start at $132.95 for general admission and $264.95 for VIP. Cabana Club tickets start at $314.95.

Sunday Night Party

Of course, there’s no reason the party should stop just because the big beach event  is over. So the Winter Party Festival will carry on at M2 Nightclub with the Sunday Night Party from 10 p.m.–5 a.m. The weekend finishes strong with an international lineup featuring London’s DJ GSP and Mor Avrahami from Forever Tel Aviv. General admission tickets start at $117.95; VIP are $164.95.

March 3

Afterglow

For those who want to keep the good vibes going well after sunrise, there's Afterglow. This Monday morning dance party will start at 5 a.m. and go until noon, with Miami’s DJ Jerac providing the soundtrack at a to-be-announced  location. Tickets are $44.95.

Action: Finale

All good things must come to an end, and that includes the Winter Party Festival. Action: Finale will begin at 10 p.m., and while the performers and venue are still pending, it promises to put a fitting cap on a week of excitement.

Tickets and Passes

Tickets to individual events are all available. Early bird tickets are still available for several events, and offer considerable savings over waiting until the week of the festival. Many events sell out, so buying in advance is the only way to guarantee you get in.

The Winter Party Festival also offers four levels of passes that get you into multiple events. The VIP pass offers the greatest value; it’s a $725 ticket for entry into all nine parties throughout the week plus a special VIP cocktail party. The Festival Pass is $485 and gets you into everything except the Elevate Pool Party and the Finale. The Weekend Pass offers entrance to all weekend events for $415, including HEAT, The Beach Party and Afterglow. Finally, the Climax pass is best for those who want to make the most out of the festival’s final day, with admission to The Beach Party, Sunday Night Party and Afterglow. It’s priced at $305.

Where to Stay

The Winter Party Festival’s official hotel is the Royal Palm Miami Beach, located on  Collins Ave. just north of 15th street. It’s near all of the parties as well as Lincoln Road, Ocean Drive, and many of South Beach’s most popular attractions. The 1930s art deco gem sits right next to the ocean, with many rooms overlooking Miami’s signature turquoise waters. The hotel is also home to Byblos, a Middle Eastern restaurant with generous portions perfect for sharing.

By: Matthew Meltzer | December 19, 2024