Circuit Party

A circuit party is a large dance event that serves mainly gay and bisexual men, featuring well-known DJs, elaborate production, and a weekend-long social atmosphere. The name comes from the way attendees follow a circuit of events from city to city across the year. The form grew out of gay tea dances and Fire Island theme parties in the late 1970s, then took shape in the mid-1980s, when many events doubled as fundraisers and awareness drives during the HIV/AIDS crisis. Signature events include the White Party, Black and Blue in Montreal, and the Winter Party Festival in Miami. Circuit parties remain a fixture of gay nightlife and have also prompted ongoing conversation about drug use, health, and body image within the scene.