National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Winter Party Festival 2010

More than 6,000 people dancing on the sands of South Beach is among the many highlights that draw thousands worldwide to one of the country’s premier LGBT fund-raising events: the annual Winter Party Festival, which features art and culture, shopping, cocktail receptions, pool parties, and multiple dance events with world-class DJs and entertainment. This year’s Winter Party Festival takes place March 3–8 and, once again, promises to deliver something for everyone. Even better, the event raises important dollars that benefit many throughout the year.

Winter Party Festival is produced by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Since 1994, Winter Party Festival and its sister event, the Miami Recognition Dinner, have raised more than $2.3 million for organizations serving the South Florida LGBT community. Two-thirds of the net proceeds from Winter Party Festival will be distributed to the Miami-Dade LGBT community through a granting program administered by the Dade Community Foundation, while the remaining one-third of the proceeds will benefit the Task Force.

“Our incredible line-up of official Winter Party Festival events provides people with memories of a lifetime. This event changes people’s lives — through their experiences here in Miami Beach and through the organizations and individuals that are the beneficiaries of our fundraising,” says Winter Party Festival chairperson Chad Richter. “And, visitors and locals alike get to enjoy all this while reaping the benefits of an annual boom for business — this event is important for local businesses too.”

“Winter Party Festival draws people from around the world to a place where they can celebrate our unity and our diversity while supporting human rights,” says Russell Roybal, deputy executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “We work at the grassroots level in local communities like South Florida and at the national level where we are driving change in our laws and political arena to ensure all voices are heard and equality is secured.”

The 2010 Winter Party Festival 2010 welcomes back returning star DJ’s Roland Belmares, Alyson Calagna, Chus & Ceballos, Ted Eiel, Brett Henrichsen, Pride,

Rosabel and Tracy Young.  In addition, appearing for the first time at Winter Party this year are eight talented DJs from around the world, including The Perry Twins, who bring their Los Angeles sounds to Miami for the Under One Sun Pool Party on Saturday afternoon, March 6. Another Los Angeles favorite, DJ Saratonin, will take the turntables Saturday night when Pandora presents Industry, the popular women’s dance party at South Beach’s famous China Grill.

Ana Paula, direct from Rio de Janeiro, brings her upbeat, high-energy set to the Winter Party Beach Party on Sunday, March 7.  This musical dynamo has a growing legion of fans from around the world.  Sunday night will be a marquee event with Boris, a resident DJ at New York’s famed Pacha, spinning on the Space Terrace at Orbit: The Only Official Sunday night dance party.

Neither the Festival nor the talent ends there: another new arrival to Winter Party Festival, New York’s Hector Fonseca, will take guests on a ride through Aftermath at Nocturnal on Monday morning, March 7.  And it all comes to a close Monday night at Mova Lounge (formerly Halo) where local DJ Oren Nizri spins the Recovery Party.  Also debuting as opening DJ’s this year are Miami’s own Charlmix for the Under One Sun Pool Party on Saturday and Alexander from Los Angeles for Elevation on Saturday night.

For information, tickets, and a complete list of events, visit www.winterparty.com.