{"id":155436,"date":"2026-02-14T12:19:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T12:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/155436\/"},"modified":"2026-02-14T12:19:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T12:19:07","slug":"gaydays-events-paused-but-orlando-lgbtq-parties-still-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/155436\/","title":{"rendered":"GayDays events paused but Orlando LGBTQ parties still on"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first weekend of June again will feature red T-shirts and multiple festivities for the LGBTQ community despite the absence of the GayDays Orlando<\/a> group, longtime event organizers say.<\/p>\n

GayDays recently announced that plans for its parties are \u201con pause\u201d for 2026. Some people may confuse GayDays Inc., an event promoter, with the more generic \u201cgay days\u201d terminology that casually and collectively refers to all planned activities for the weekend, including the traditional gathering at Magic Kingdom<\/a> theme park. All those events are still planned for this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been trying to communicate what\u2019s going on for 20-plus years \u2014 that we are not the same party,\u201d said Ethan Suarez, producer of One Magical Weekend<\/a>. \u201cWe are a different party, and we\u2019re a separate event. \u2026 I\u2019m very used to the confusion all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

His One Magical Weekend presents gatherings such as pool parties, DJ-driven dance parties, a drag brunch, a vendors expo and a nighttime outing to Typhoon Lagoon<\/a>, a Walt Disney World<\/a> water park. Last year, it drew about 10,000 participants, Suarez said, and ticket sales for the 2026 event are ahead of last year\u2019s pace.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur host hotels are almost sold out,\u201d he said. \u201cWe were already announcing our DJs. We were announcing our party themes. We start planning over a year in advance of our next year. So we\u2019re deep into production.\u201d<\/p>\n

Orlando Gay Days \u2018paused\u2019 this year as sponsors bailed, group says<\/a><\/p>\n

Alison Burgos is a co-founder of the Girls in Wonderland<\/a>, a four-day event covering that June weekend. There is some confusion online about the status of this year\u2019s events, given the GayDays announcement, but she feels her clients \u2014 predominantly women \u2014 are aware that the organizations operate separately.<\/p>\n

The Girls in Wonderland events will be at multiple International Drive venues with themes such as Sapphic Safari, Space Cowboy and Love Island.<\/p>\n

The gay day phenomenon dates back to a single day in 1991, when online friends agreed to meet at Magic Kingdom. They wore red shirts to help them spot one another. Its popularity grew, extending to additional days and theme parks and packed crowds at Mannequins, a now-closed nightclub at Disney\u2019s Pleasure Island<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The gatherings were not official functions of the attractions. Eventually, local nightclubs threw related parties and independent promoters started bigger events, for a price, at hotels and parks, drawing international audiences.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe informal tradition of guests visiting the parks and wearing red is a community-driven gathering and is not produced or managed by GayDays Inc.,\u201d the organization\u2019s website says, acknowledging that gay days is more than GayDays Inc.<\/p>\n

Burgos, whose South Florida-based Pandora Events<\/a> company organizes events for lesbians, recalls attending the Magic Kingdom gathering as a patron years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were at Disney, walking around, and people saw us and knew that we held parties in Miami, and girls were walking up saying, \u2018Oh, my God, are you guys doing a party?\u2019\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was that light-bulb, epiphany moment. We looked at each other like, \u2018Wow, we need to do a party,\u2019\u201d Burgos said. This year is 26th edition of Girls in Wonderland.<\/p>\n

In the announcement about this year\u2019s GayDays pause, owners said a loss of sponsors and other broader, nationwide challenges were at play.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past few years, many organizations have taken a more conservative approach to sponsorships, travel, and discretionary spending,\u201d GayDays co-owner Josh Duke said in an email to the Orlando Sentinel recently. \u201cThat shift has affected community events across the country \u2014 and not just LGBTQ+ events, but festivals, conferences, and large gatherings in general.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suarez says that two previous sponsors \u2014 both alcohol companies \u2014 of One Magical Weekend pulled out this year, pointing to budget cuts.<\/p>\n

The current geopolitical atmosphere also creates challenges, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is, every once in a while, in our comments, \u2018Oh, well, we\u2019re not going to Florida. Come to California, where it\u2019s more liberal,\u2019\u201d Suarez said. \u201cWhat I say to those people is that, well, there are queer people that live in Florida. We have to stand up and take action and show that we are here and we\u2019re not going anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Florida is \u201ca red state right now,\u201d Burgos said. \u201cAnd the industry itself, I think, is having a few challenges. But now more than ever, things like One Magical Weekend and Girls in Wonderland and pride festivals are important, making sure we have safe spaces for the LGBT community to celebrate \u2014 and celebrate with joy in a safe place.\u201d<\/p>\n

The weekend has always evolved with ownership, cultural and lineup changes.<\/p>\n

Relatively new to the scene is Pride Cup<\/a>, athletic competitions organized by the non-profit KindRED Pride Foundation<\/a>. Sports include basketball, kickball, pickleball, soccer and volleyball.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are looking forward to having over 1,000 athletes this year,\u201d said Burgos, who serves on the KindRED board.<\/p>\n

A broader array of activities shows the willingness to appeal to more people, said Ed Salvato<\/a>, a New York-based LGBTQ marketing specialist.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do think there\u2019s a lot of room for growth and change in many of the LGBTQ brands that are out there,\u201d Salvato said. \u201cIf you want to survive in this crowded, competitive marketplace, you have to keep inventing yourself and creating value for your customers and potential customers.\u201d<\/p>\n

In its fourth decade of existence, Orlando\u2019s gay days remain in the zeitgeist, Salvato said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a very important historical event, but it\u2019s also a relevant event,\u201d he said. \u201cPart of that is attributed to that broad acceptance. It\u2019s not just rich, gay, white men. Really, everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

And with an uptick of gay and lesbian people with kids, a family-friendly theme-park atmosphere is appealing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey feel very comfortable going there,\u201d Salvato said. \u201cThey probably went themselves when they were kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

dbevil@orlandosentinel.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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