Arts & Entertainment
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Pride at the Rainbow Masquerade NYE Party 2025
Grab your glitter, don your mask, and get ready to sashay into 2025 at the Rainbow Masquerade NYE Party!
Grab your glitter, don your mask, and get ready to sashay into 2025 at the Rainbow Masquerade NYE Party! This isn’t your average New Year’s Eve celebration—it’s the ultimate queer bash brought to you by Capital Pride, serving glamour, inclusivity, and fierce vibes as DC counts down to World Pride 2025.
Party with Purpose
This isn’t just a party—it’s a movement. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Capital Pride, ensuring that every drink you sip and every move you make on the dance floor supports advocacy, education, and programs for the LGBTQ+ community. As the world prepares to turn its eyes to DC for World Pride 2025, this event is your chance to show your pride and kick off the new year with purpose and panache.
Pick Your Experience
Whether you’re strutting solo, vibing with your chosen family, or ready to splurge on an epic NYE, we’ve got the perfect ticket for you:
-
- General Admission: Your ticket to the most fabulous party in town includes a standard open bar, live entertainment, and access to a night filled with laughter, love, and legendary vibes.
- Pride Privilege Pass: Go big or go home with premium open bar access, exclusive lounge area, and elevated spaces perfect for taking a breather (or snapping the perfect selfie).
- Queer Royale: For groups ready to slay together, reserve a private table and enjoy VIP seating, dedicated service, and all the perks that make you and your crew the stars of the night.
- Bubble Hideaway: Ready to turn up the heat? This exclusive hot tub cabana includes private seating, premium service, and a whole lot of bubbles—perfect for ringing in 2025 in true queer luxury. Only 1 available!
The Night’s Highlights
From jaw-dropping performances to a midnight champagne toast, the Rainbow Masquerade has it all:
-
- Electrifying Entertainment: Live drag acts and aerial performers will keep you gagged and gooped all night long.
- Immersive Decor: A photo-ready wonderland that’s as bold, beautiful, and diverse as our community.
- Endless Cocktails: Enjoy unlimited drinks tailored to your ticket tier—it’s time to toast, darling!
- Midnight Moment: Raise your glass as we countdown to midnight and step into a fabulous new year.
Why You Can’t Miss This
The Rainbow Masquerade isn’t just a party; it’s a celebration of everything that makes our community shine. As we look ahead to World Pride 2025, this event is your chance to start the year surrounded by love, pride, and unapologetic joy.
Whether you’re here for the performances, the community, or just a reason to celebrate, the Rainbow Masquerade NYE Party is the place to be.
Plan Your Night
- Date and Time: Tuesday, December 31, 2024 | 10 PM – 2 AM
- Location: 3400 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC
- Tickets: Snag yours now HERE
Cheers to a Fabulous Future
Ready to strut into 2025? Let’s make it one for the history books—full of pride, purpose, and a whole lot of glitter. Grab your ticket, bring your crew, and let’s start the countdown.
See you under the disco ball!
a&e features
Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
‘Sapphire & Sparkle’ Spring Affair held at the Ritz Carlton
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington held the annual Spring Affair gala at the Ritz Carlton Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The theme for this year’s fete was “Sapphire & Sparkle.” The chorus celebrated 45 years in D.C. with musical performances, food, entertainment, and an awards ceremony.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Executive Director Justin Fyala and Artistic Director Thea Kano gave welcoming speeches. Opening remarks were delivered by Spring Affair co-chairs Tracy Barlow and Tomeika Bowden. Uproariously funny comedian Murray Hill performed a stand-up set and served as the emcee.
There were performances by Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington groups Potomac Fever, 17th Street Dance, the Rock Creek Singers, Seasons of Love, and the GenOUT Youth Chorus.
Anjali Murthy, a member of the chorus and a graduate of the GenOUT Youth Chorus, addressed the attendees of the gala.
“The LGBTQ+ community isn’t bound by blood ties: we are brought together by shared experience,” Murthy said. “Being Gen Z, I grew up with Ellen [DeGeneres] telling me through the TV screen that it gets better: that one day, it’ll all be okay. The sentiment isn’t wrong, but it’s passive. What I’ve learned from GMCW is that our future is something we practice together. It exists because people like you continue to show up for it, to believe in the possibilities of what we’re still becoming”
The event concluded with the presentation of the annual Harmony Awards. This year’s awardees included local drag artist and activist Tara Hoot, the human rights organization Rainbow Railroad as well as Rocky Mountain Arts Association Executive Director, Dr. Chipper Dean.
(Washington Blade photos and videos by Michael Key)
Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 16.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Photos
PHOTOS: Blade Summer Kickoff Party
Ashley Biden accepts award for Beau Biden at annual Rehoboth fundraiser
The 19th annual Blade Foundation Summer Kickoff Party was held on Friday, May 15 at Diego’s in Rehoboth Beach, Del. An award presentation was held for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. Ashley Biden accepted the award on her brother’s behalf and gave remarks. Other speakers included Delaware state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Dr. Robin Brennan and Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff. The event was a fundraiser for the Steve Elkins Memorial Fellowship in Journalism.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
BREAKING NEWS: Barney Frank dies at 86
Intersex lives, constitutional freedom, and the dangerous future of Ghana’s Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill
Doc on Blade reporter Chibbaro scores Emmy nomination
Don’t let Rehoboth rain deter you, there’s lots to do for Memorial Day
HIV Vaccine Awareness Day set for May 18
‘The Inheritance’ is most-nominated at this year’s Helen Hayes Awards
Calendar: May 15-21
United Night Out set for Saturday
