Urge Miami Festival Steps In Where 'Circuit Festival' Left Off

For the past three years, Circuit Festival Miami, a weekend event that welcomed thousands of gay men from across the world to South Beach, was held over Thanksgiving weekend. Like every other large outdoor event, last year's party was cancelled because of the pandemic. Due to COVID restrictions that remain in Europe, the producers have decided to cancel this year's Miami festival too.

Instead, the American producers of Circuit are presenting Urge Miami Festival, with a focus on domestic travelers. “We are billing this year’s event as the ultimate holiday reunion for the American gay party community, emphasizing strength and unity,” says producer Hilton Wolman.

He and his co-producers Luis Morera and Billy Kemp are throwing a massive three-night, four-day spectacular that will feature a list of the world’s most famous circuit DJs including Isaac Escalante, Joe Gauthreaux, Phil Romano, and Las Bibas From Vizcaya .

“We are thrilled to bring the world’s best gay Thanksgiving event back to Miami,” Wolman continues.

They will utilize many of the Circuit venues for Urge Miami Festival, including the signature event of the weekend: the long-established Sunday Beach Party. It will take place on an expanded area, east of the dunes on 12th Street, on an even wider footprint that will give more space on the dancefloor. It will also feature a stage that rises 25 feet into the air and a raised VIP area with great views of the stage, where guests can enjoy a full open bar.

URGE Miami Festival’s opening night party will take place Friday at M3 Studios and will be a collaboration with Mexico’s Arena Festival and We Party. The Saturday night event is “Papa Sundown”, a partnership with Eliad Cohen’s renowned Papa brand. The massive Sunday night “Holy-Wood” event will take place at Story, South Beach’s premier nightclub. “Story is a huge space plus they haven’t had any gay parties there since we did Urge there in 2015,” Wolman explains. The weekend will close with the legendary Monday marathon at Elks. Featuring beats by Morabito, the morning party will begin at 5am and continue late into the afternoon.

General admission and VIP tickets are available, as is the popular 24-hour pass that includes the Sunday Beach Party, Sunday night event and Monday morning Afterhours event.

In addition to uniting festivals lovers with their favorite circuit DJs and performers, URGE Miami Festival is committed to supporting the local Miami economy. Producers are working to drive tourists into businesses by offering discounts on all sorts of merchandise from stores, restaurants, and gyms. “It’s a beautiful exchange,” Luis Morera, a longtime South Florida resident, says. “We want to make sure that URGE Miami Festival is contributing directly to our beautiful city and that we are leaving a good and lasting impression.”

Additionally, the producers are scheduling a beach clean-up so that they leave the sands as clean as they were before the weekend parties.

Tickets for URGE Miami Festival are available now on their website. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Miami Beach Pride, a not-for-profit organization that works to unite members of the LGBTQ community by celebrating the unique spirit and culture of its people.