Gay Days Fort Lauderdale

Gay Days has brought thousands upon thousands of travelers to Central Florida for nearly 25 years, and now Thanksgiving will never be the same as Gay Days presents its very first celebrations in Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy the music of internationally-known DJs, the beautiful weather and even more beautiful people present at the Gay Days pool parties, the vendor expo, and everything else that comes to mind when you think of Gay Days.

Gay Days Fort Lauderdale Week kicks off on Tuesday, November 25 at 8 p.m. with an "Absolut-ly Fabulous" Dance Party at Rock Bar (219 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard). The parties and events continue on through the Thanksgiving holiday and through the weekend as well.

Below we have the scoop on where to stay, where to play and what to do during Gay Days in Fort Lauderdale.

The Expo

The first annual Gay Days Fort Lauderdale Expo is sponsored by MyFortLauderdaleBeach.com and can be found at the W Fort Lauderdale's Level 2. Expo hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, November 28 and Saturday, November 29, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 30. The expo is free to attend.

At the expo there will also be a silent auction, with various items donated by sponsors and companies participating in the expo. Part of the proceeds raised will benefit local service organizations such as The Pride Center, SunServe, Poverello, and others.

Pool Parties

Gay Days Fort Lauderdale will host four pool parties at Level 5 at the W Fort Lauderdale. The parties are as follows:

Lucky Locals - Have fun at the kickoff pool party for this year's Gay Days celebration, with DJ Ryan Tiffin playing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and DJ Wendy Hunt playing from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Thursday, November 27)

Soakin' Wet - This pool party is sponsored by Bud Light and will feature the talents of DJ Andy Ajar from 10 a.m. from 2 p.m. and DJ Chi Chi LaRue from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Friday, November 28)

Water War - Hotspots is the sponsor of this pool party, and it will feature poolside contests, great prizes and the following live DJs: Nancy Starr from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Edil Hernandez from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Party with us at the W Fort Lauderdale, the hottest place to be this weekend! (Saturday, November 29)

Temptation Sunday - Take part in a fun party by the pool with DJ Chris Adams (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and DJ Citizen Jane (2 p.m. to 6 p.m.), who will show you how we do tea dances down here in South Florida! (Sunday, November 30)

Pool party passes can be bought online or at the ticket area at the W Hotel's Level 2. A four-day pass costs $25; the Thursday pool party costs $5 while the Friday, Saturday and Sunday pool parties cost $10 each. Note to Florida residents: You get free admission to the Thursday party all day long, and free admission between 10 a.m. and noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday if you show your valid Florida ID.

If you're a fan of bar games, the Bar Olympics at Dirty Blondes (229 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard) is an event you should definitely attend. It starts at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26. Play games like darts and skee ball and compete for bar tabs ranging between $10 and $30.

Enjoy a sushi and sake pairing and tasting at Tsukuro (225 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard) on Wednesday, November 26 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Try twelve different customer favorite sushi rolls. Tickets are $55 per person, and you must purchase them in advance. Call (954) 523-1407 or e-mail [email protected].

Enjoy a four-course meal for Thanksgiving at Spazio (239 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard). Dinner starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $100 and must be purchased in advance. E-mail [email protected] to do so.

Gay Days Fort Lauderdale celebrates its first dance party at The Armory (400 SW 24th Street) at 9 p.m. on Friday, November 28. Impulse Group South Florida and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation present a special event benefiting SunServe. DJs Maximus 3000 and Kidd Madonny will be spinning for the crowds ready to dance all night long. General admission is $45 and VIP with open bar costs $85. Buy your tickets online at sunserve.nationbuilder.com/gaydays.

Lodging

The host hotel for Gay Days Fort Lauderdale is the W Fort Lauderdale (401 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard). 430 impeccably-designed, state-of-the-art rooms are ready and waiting for Gay Days attendees. Located right on the beach, the W also boasts a spa, pool, hair salon and four different dining options. Room rates start at $199 per night. To make a reservation, call (954) 414-8200.

Hotspots Media Group is proud to be a sponsor of Gay Days Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit gaydays.com/featured/gay-days-fort-lauderdale.html