87 Reasons to Go to the Sun-Drenched LGBTQ Task Force Winter Party

Thanks to the National LGBTQ Task Force for letting us post these very motivating photos from the 2018 Festival. Tickets sell out fast, so you may want to take care of that before you read all about the Winter Party Festival.

The Festival has evolved into a week-long series of events, taking place on Miami Beach and benefiting the LGBTQ community both locally and nationally. Much of the gross proceeds from Winter Party Festival support the Task Force's efforts to take action, build power and create change for LGBTQ people. A significant amount of the remaining proceeds are also donated to local service organizations through a grant-making process administered by the Miami Foundation.

Founded in 1994, the original Winter Party featured just one event, a huge dance party held on the sands of South Beach. The blend of SoBe, surf and sun, along with fabulous people, music, and weather, proved to be an irresistible combination for Winter Party's success. Soon, thousands of LGBTQ people were pouring in from around the world, making this one of the hottest weekends on the queer calendar of South Florida. Over the years, Winter Party has grown and evolved to a weeklong celebration with dozens of events, from cocktail parties, to stage shows to health advocacy programs -- drawing more than 10,000 attendees to the festival. The roster of international DJ talent and Miami's unparalleled venues provide the kind of events that could never happen anyplace else in the world,

This year's festival is already shaping up to be a major success, with passes and tickets selling out at many levels. This year's theme -- With Open Arms -- focuses on the organization's dedication and specific efforts to make WPF a welcoming environment for all. In 2018, a study conducted by the Task Force and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau articulated that 55% percent of attendees at WPF identify as non-Caucasian. This year, organizers worked to diversify the talent on the DJ roster by including more women, featuring the skills of Sharon O Love (making her US debut), Anne Louise and MORABITO behind the turntables.