After a steady, decade-long decline in the number of LGBTQ bars and clubs in Washington, D.C., the trend has finally reversed: 2023 saw the opening of several new venues, adding to a similar number that emerged in 2022.
As a result, the D.C. area now counts at least 20 LGBTQ watering holes and safe spaces to call its own. Certainly, that’s cause for celebration and raising a toast — or three.
And while you could have a festive New Year’s Eve at any number of venues around town — gay or straight — what follows is a selection of how 13 local nightspots are ushering in 2024 this Sunday, December 31.
Our New Year’s Eve roundup includes a mix of both brand-new and classic venues specifically for the queer community, as well as two of the city’s preeminent concert venues, one of which is hosting a themed party dedicated to ABBA and disco, the other on the music of Taylor Swift.
Cheers to the queer dancing queens, and a very happy new year to all.
Several times a year, the storied concert venue offers a DJ-driven dance party devoted to quintessential dance-pop band ABBA, a long-ago disbanded quartet of Swedes whose popularity remains strong in party because they refrain from the limelight and refuse to tour. Now, on the cusp of yet another year — one marking the 50th anniversary of their Eurovision Song Contest breakthrough — comes not one but two more to close out 2023. “Gimme Gimme Disco: A Dance Party Inspired by ABBA” will commence with doors at 9 p.m. at the now sold-out New Year’s Eve show and the one added the night before, on New Year’s Eve Eve. The cover is the same on both nights.
Midnight Revelry: Complimentary Champagne Toast, Noisemakers, Party Hats, Favors
Carrying the name “Glitter Ball,” the “New Queers’ Eve” party at this Barracks Row space is themed “trashy y2k,” for which patrons can “wear what you love,” though “glitter [is] encouraged.” The club’s regular DJ Snake will spin tunes from roughly two decades ago, but “all [by] request.”
You’ll be able to usher in the new year by dancing right on through the very first sunrise of 2024, which you won’t even see while twirling away in the intimate underground space. This “12-Hour Masquerade Ball” will feature three different DJs, with celebrated club veteran Joe Gauthreaux tapped for the peak-hours slot starting shortly after midnight. He’ll be bookended by DJs TANNR and Jesus Montanez. In addition to a glass of champagne at midnight, every ticketholder will receive a mask “to ensure your anonymity” for “the sexiest masquerade ball in town.” A pass offering VIP entry and free drinks from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. is $99.
Midnight Revelry: Complimentary Champagne Toast, Noisemakers, Party Hats, Favors
“New Year’s Eve with the Divas” features the cast of Freddie’s Follies Drag Show portraying the likes of Whitney, Adele, Cher, Celine, P!nk, and Tina. Showtime is at 9:30 p.m. The evening includes hors d’oeuvres and a champagne toast.
Midnight Revelry: Complimentary Champagne Toast, Noisemakers, Party Hats, Favors
Send off 2023 at this landmark LGBTQ bar in two different ways if you so desire. Starting at 9 p.m. on the 1st Floor, you can take in some of what typically transpires on Sundays with Karaoke with Kevin. When you’re ready to get lifted and titillated, the 2nd Floor promises go-go dancers on full display amidst patrons dancing to music by The Bear Cave’s DJ Popperz, who will spin right on through to 2024. Psst: The venue actually opens at 4 p.m. for four (!) full hours of Happy Hour specials. Also note that patrons won’t earn a free drink if they doff their top as they would any other Sunday: “No Shirtless Sunday tonight.”
Midnight Revelry: Complimentary Champagne Toast, Noisemakers, Party Hats, Favors
Hosts Citrine, Evry Pleasure, and Sirene Noir Sidora Jackson will offer pop-up drag performances in addition to overseeing antics ranging from games, such as Wig Olympics, to prize giveaways, to announcing drink specials all night long, including $4 Skyy Vodka and $4 Truly drinks. Music and videos by DJ Andre.
Midnight Revelry: Complimentary Champagne Toast, Noisemakers, Party Hats, Favors
Right out of the gate at 8 p.m., you’ll enjoy festive music by DJ Dez Jordan as well as a short drag show — a kind-of teaser for the all-day lineup of House of Kiki Drag Performances planned for January 1. On New Year’s Eve, Kiki will be running specials on drinks including popping open cans of Truly and serving Absolut mixed drinks for just $7 each, with Fireball libations going for just $8 a shot. This special night will find Kiki kicking at peak level when the clock strikes 10 p.m., as that’s when DJ Lemz will take over in the club, and DJ Phil Reese will set off at the same time out on the patio, both carrying on without letup until close. For $50, guests can purchase a Skip The Line pass good every night of a full NYE weekend slate of events.
BacK2bACk, the local VJ/DJ tag-team duo who have been the first and last name in LGBTQ-popular music videos for thirty years, will take their rightful position to count down the Top 10 Videos of the Year, culminating with 2023’s No. 1 video just before midnight.
Midnight Revelry: Complimentary Champagne Toast, Noisemakers, Party Hats, Favors
All five floors of the large Adams Morgan complex — Pitchers caters primarily to gay men and ALOHO, queer women — will be open for the last night of 2023, including the kitchen, so patrons can partake in a little bit of everything the venue offers, from eating and drinking to dancing and prancing, not to mention mixing and mingling, maybe even some game-playing or watching, if not also a stretch of biding one’s time until… boom, just like that, it’s already almost midnight and a dose of madness races in.
“The Taylor Party” will undoubtedly play out exactly as you’d expect, with a rush of area Swifties gathering together to celebrate Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. They’ll be busy indulging in everything from themed cocktails to Friendship Bracelet Giveaways, and from a “It Was Rare, I Was There” Photo Booth to an Eras Costume Contest offering top prizes of I.M.P. Gift Cards in amounts of $250 to $1,000. The party officially starts at 9:45 p.m.
Midnight Revelry: Complimentary Champagne Toast, Noisemakers, Party Hats, Favors
Billed as “D.C.’s only Black-owned LGBTQ+ lounge,” the area’s newest queer venue is so new, its website and social media outlets are still “under construction.” However, the venue is unequivocally ready and open every Wednesday through Sunday evening with “no cover charge” and where “all are welcome.” Thurst has set up shop just north of U Street on 14th Street NW in an impressive two-story property that a decade ago housed the short-lived queer space Mova, and, more recently, the restaurant Sakerum. For New Year’s Eve, Thurst will feature a balloon drop and a round of bubbly, among other specials for the evening. Stay tuned to Instagram for further details as well as to RSVP.
Expect the usual annual to-do at this popular Logan Circle destination — that is, “our annual ‘New Year’s Toast (actual toast) at midnight.” Guests wanting to toast with bubbly as well can order from the regular drinks menu. But fear not, the venue will have its share of sparkling — courtesy of queens Vagenesis and Dabatha Christie, who will host a recap of 2023 as well as preview 2024, with DJ Strikestone also contributing to the evening’s effervescence.
NoMa’s sprawling LGBTQ-popular beer garden promises a “wild New Year’s Eve bash” with its DJ Dance Party headlined by DJ Yvng Hanklin starting at 8 p.m. Guests are encouraged to register online for free and also encouraged to consider paying to rent one of the venue’s small heated cabanas for added comfort and privacy, rather than take the chance that the main heated tent, open to all and first-come, first-serve, runs out of room.
Turn back to 2015, and you may recall a busy year. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of nationwide marriage equality. Barack Obama's second term was coming to a close. Caitlyn Jenner came out as transgender. Star Wars offered up the seventh installment of its ongoing space opera. And, in December, Trade opened on 14th Street.
Ed Bailey, sort of the public-facing proprietor of a decades-running D.C. gay nightlife empire -- along with John Guggenmos and Jim "Chachi" Boyle -- knew the space well. He's long lived just around the corner. Since World Pride, back in June, the original Trade space has more than doubled. Bailey was particularly familiar with the next-door addition the bar grew into.
Time to pop the cork! Whether you're chasing disco nostalgia, favorite DJs, drag-fueled countdowns, or a low-key toast at your neighborhood bar, D.C.'s LGBTQ nightlife offers no shortage of options. From ticketed blowouts to no-cover hangs, these venues are ready to toss 2025 out the window and welcome a hopefully brighter 2026 with sass and style.
The Atlantis
2047 9th St. NW
theatlantis.com
The Atlantis celebrates in New Year's Eve with an 18+ ticketed dance party. The DJ-driven celebration centers on ABBA, with plenty of additional disco favorites from the '70s and '80s -- including tracks by the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, and Cher. Festivities include a complimentary champagne toast at midnight, and disco attire is encouraged. Tickets are $68.40. The venue will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
The Capital Pride Alliance is moving the 2026 Capital Pride celebration to the third week of June -- one week later than usual -- to avoid overlapping with major events tied to President Donald Trump's June 14 birthday and preparations for the nation's 250th anniversary. Pride weekend will run June 20-21, with the parade on Saturday and the festival and concert on Sunday.
Last year, the Trump administration marked the president's birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Armed Forces with a downtown military parade. This year, all national parks will offer free entry on June 14, and the White House is expected to host several Ultimate Fighting Championship matches on the White House lawn to draw large crowds for Trump's 80th birthday and the country's Semiquincentennial celebrations.
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