Miami Beach is enticing guests to experience the beauty and liveliness of the city with a packed calendar of events during April.
From Miami Beach Gay Pride and MiFo LGBT Film Festival, to the vibrant year-round offerings from proud restaurants and hotels, Miami Beach is gearing up for a colourful month.
“Miami Beach fosters an inclusive community and embraces visitors from all walks of life, as demonstrated by our Travvy Award for Best LGBTQ Destination earlier this year,” says Peggy Benua, Chair of the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA). “An acclaimed haven for the LGBT community, Miami Beach is like no other place in the world.”
Welcoming visitors from around the world, Miami Beach Gay Pride is one of the most festive celebrations of its kind. The annual week-long festival is taking over the city from April 3-10, bringing together members of the LGBT community and their allies. This year, in a show of solidarity, Miami Beach will be paying tribute to the victims, families and friends of the PULSE Nightclub shooting by orchestrating “Pride Lights the Night”. Buildings, retail locations, and homes throughout the Miami Beach area will light up awash in the colours of the Pride rainbow flag.
On April 9, with Ross Mathews as its celebrity Grand Marshall, The Pride Parade, drawing more than 130,000 participants each year, will travel along Ocean Drive. The fun doesn’t end after the final float is gone; from Friday, April 21 to Sunday, April 30, the MiFo LGBT Film Festival continues the party and returns to Miami Beach. Guests can catch special screenings of films dedicated to diversity in cinema, offering contemporary perspectives on the LGBT experience, playing at the Regal Cinemas South Beach.
In addition to the exciting annual events, there are many mainstay LGBT-friendly activities year-round, including BRUNCHIC at the spectacular Palace South Beach. Every Sunday, both visitors and locals enjoy delicious food, bottomless mimosas, and the lively Drag Brunch performances that the Palace is famous for. The center of gay nightlife in Miami Beach for over 20 years, Twist South Beach offers Ladies Happy Hour and nightly dance parties, a popular “must-do” experience. For accommodations, Hôtel Gaythering, Miami Beach’s premier hotel catering to the gay traveler, is a top choice.
“Miami Beach is a world-renowned travel destination for the LGBT community”, says Grisette Roque, Executive Director of the MBVCA. “The city strives to ensure guests and residents feel secure and entertained in our beautiful city with programs such as ‘The Hub’ LGBT Visitor Center and the newly launched safe-space initiative. Miami Beach remains a leading example for LGBT inclusiveness.”
For more information about LGBT events, offerings, and things to do, download the Miami Beach Information App at www.MiamiBeachAPI.com.
