Dec. 1 is World AIDS Day, a time to remember the millions who have died from the virus, honor the people living with the disease, and praise the people working to keep up the fight.

While other health emergencies have gripped world attention in recent years, HIV/AIDS continues to be a major crisis, and South Florida is the epicenter.

“We need to continue the conversations,” World AIDS Museum Executive Director, Dr. Requel Lopes, told SFGN. “This is a virus that is pesky and changes. It doesn’t conform the way we wish it would so we could eradicate it. The more people who think they don’t need to worry about it, the more people who become positive.”

The day starts at the Galleria Mall at 2414 E. Sunrise in Fort Lauderdale, where The Pride Center and the World AIDS Museum will hold their Rock the Ribbon event. The Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus will perform, and Mayor Dean Trantalis is scheduled to speak.

Panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt are on display at the mall until Dec. 10.

The World AIDS Museum’s website has several short films on the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The World AIDS Day Vigil and Remembrance Walk begins at 6:30 p.m. at Hagan Park at 2020 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. At 7 p.m., they will walk to The Pride Center at Equality Park at 2040 N. Dixie Highway.

The day will be marked at several spots across Palm Beach County as well. In Lake Worth, Compass will open their NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt from 6-8 p.m. at the Compass Community Center at 201 Dixie N. Highway and streamed on Facebook Live.

FoundCare is offering rapid HIV and Hepatitis C testing from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at three locations:

1500 NW Ave. L, Belle Glade

2330 S. Congress Ave, West Palm Beach

1901 S. Congress Ave, Suite 100, Boynton Beach