The party is over before it even started. This year’s Winter Party Festival, originally scheduled for March 2-8, has been canceled.
Festival organizers released a statement on Jan. 14 saying the latest surge of COVID-19 outbreaks was to blame.
“We have made the difficult decision to cancel Winter Party 2022 amidst the latest surge of COVID-19,” a spokesperson for Winter Party said. “Because we wanted to inform you as soon as possible, we are still working to determine how we will handle ticket and pass refunds as well as other questions you might have. We will be in touch with additional information.”
Winter Party Festival is an annual, weeklong LGBT celebration of music, dance and community that raises funds in support of the National LGBTQ Task Force. The festival was to take place at several different locations across Miami Beach and Greater Miami.
Among the planned events were dance parties and performances such as IGNITE, presented by Thots & Prayers, queer dance promoters from Detroit; and HEAT, a production by Hilton Wolman Events, inspired by Brazil’s Carnival celebration with costumed dancers and high-energy beats by DJs Jerac and Ana Flor.
Winter Party and Masterbeat were to join forces for two events: SPRING BREAK, an all-night dance extravaganza at the new Studio 60 Nightclub, where Grammy-nominated DJ Rosabel, a house music duo consisting of DJs Ralphi Rosario and Abel Aguilera, were scheduled to perform; and WINTER OLYMPICS, featuring music by DJs Calagna and Micky Friedmann.
Also planned was the marquee event and “crown jewel” of Winter Party Festival, the BEACH PARTY, a seven-hour dance party held right on the sand off of 12th Street and Ocean Drive with beats by well-known international DJs Dan Slater and Isaac Escalante. In addition to the large dance events, there were also a number of smaller, intimate events planned, including a VIP cocktail reception.
“Well, this is unfortunate,” said FitWolf on Twitter after hearing of the cancellation.
A spokesperson for Winter Party added: “At a time when we would like to do nothing more than to come together and celebrate our community, our resilience and our connections, we share in your disappointment.”
Courtesy of Miami Gay News.
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