The countdown to the inaugural Red Dress, Dress Red Gala event in South Florida is nearly its final stages. The World AIDS Museum and Educational Center’s Hunters Nightclub Red Dress, Dress Red Gala begins at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 4 at Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA) (1855 Griffin Road in Dania Beach).
While the event has been a success in other major cities, it is the first time the gala will be held in South Florida. The event aims to bring awareness to the HIV epidemic and raise funds for quality programming developed by the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center (WAM). The red theme sets the tone for this fun, high-energy night leading up to Pride of the Americas 2023 in Fort Lauderdale.
“World AIDS Museum and Educational Center is excited to bring this successful event here, which will be our first signature fundraiser to support our Florida AIDS Walk team,” Terry Dyer says, executive director of World AIDS Museum and Educational Center. “The Red Dress, Dress Red Gala, which is a historic national dance party known for being an over-the-top evening of fantasy and fun to support HIV awareness, will serve as a symbol of the strength and unity we seek to foster in our community to eradicate this deadly disease that still silently kills.”
The evening includes a VIP reception featuring entertainment by Broadway performer Anne Steele, local sensation LeNora Jaye, award-winning violinists Synergy Twins and American Idol Season 10-star Matthew Darren. VIP guests will also enjoy complimentary beverages, hors d’oeuvres, and more. At 8 p.m., DCOTA will be transformed into an electrifying dance venue with pulsating electronic, dance and pop music orchestrated by DJ Ed Talks. CrowdSync Technologies, which produces sensational live music experiences on a large scale, will create a mesmerizing light show.
An actual dress is not required, but all guests are encouraged to wear something red and be dressed to impress. Guests will don everything from a red top hat and tails to red sequins and feathers as they dance the night away until 11:30 p.m. All are invited to an official after-hours dance party at Hunters Nightclub.
“Hunters Nightclub is proud to be the title sponsor of this themed dance party for a good cause,” Mark Hunter says, proprietor of Hunters Nightclub Wilton Manors and Palm Springs. “We applaud the outreach and education efforts created by WAM and understand the importance of having this global health challenge remain in the forefront of people’s hearts and minds.”
Tickets are $250 (VIP includes 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. special reception with an open bar sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, a private shuttle from Hunters to DCOTA, meet and greet with celebrities, and free valet parking) and $100 (general admission from 8 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. includes live entertainment, complimentary beverages, valet parking or self-parking), and are available to purchase here. All funds collected through ticket sales and corporate sponsorships up to $500K will be matched dollar-for-dollar by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF).
For more information about World AIDS Museum and Educational Center’s Hunters Nightclub Red Dress, Dress Red Gala, visit www.worldaidsmuseum.org.
