A new party tradition is heading south with the debut of World AIDS Museum and Educational Center’s Hunters Nightclub Red Dress, Dress Red Gala on February 4, 2023, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA) (1855 Griffin Road in Dania Beach). With a history of success in other major cities, this inaugural South Florida event will bring awareness to the HIV epidemic and raise funds for quality programming developed by the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center (WAM). Tickets are on sale, now.

The red theme sets the tone for this high-energy night of fun that leads up to Pride of the Americas 2023 in Fort Lauderdale. An actual dress is not required, but all 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 at DCOTA from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Floor-thumping tunes, an open bar and complimentary valet parking make it a fabulous night for all attendees. A VIP ticket adds a level of indulgence with a 1.5-hour 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 have an opportunity to meet and greet RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 star Trinity K. Bonet and enjoy complimentary beverages, hors d’oeuvres, DJ Ed and more. All are invited to an official after-hours dance party at Hunters Nightclub.

All funds collected through ticket sales and corporate sponsorships up to $500K will be matched dollar-for-dollar by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF).

Tickets for the highly anticipated event 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 at RDDRgala.eventbrite.com.

This event started as a promise kept by a gay male couple after they received HIV diagnoses. They each promised to wear red at funerals they attended, instead of the traditional black attire usually worn, to bring attention to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States. Since 2005, Red Dress Parties have become popularized in other larger cities such as Palm Springs, San Diego, Portland, Toronto, Seattle and San Francisco to benefit HIV and LGBTQ-related organizations.

The World AIDS Museum and Educational Center‘s Hunters Nightclub Red Dress, Dress Red Gala is sponsored by AHF, Citrix, LeBoy/LIT Bar, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Midland/CAN Community Health, Florida Blue, FPL, HRC, Memorial Health System, G21 Fitness, Aaron’s Cremation and Funeral, RE/MAX, CycleBar Fort Lauderdale, SAVE, Spirit Airlines, Pub on the Drive, Pride of the Americas, Visit Lauderdale, CrowdSync Technologies, Flockfest and Design Center of the Americas. Media sponsors include Lifestyle Media Group/SFBW, OutClique, SFGN, HotSpots! and It’s Happening Out.

For more information about World AIDS Museum and Educational Center‘s Hunters Nightclub Red Dress, Dress Red Gala, call (954) 390-0550 or visit www.worldaidsmuseum.org