7 Gay Ways to Ring in the New Year

Now that we’ve stuck a big ol’ fork in Christmas it’s time to turn our sights on the dawning of 2014. Here, we round up seven of the most-fun-sounding gay ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in Philadelphia — from a tassel-twirling bash at Tabu to Nightlife Gay’s very first Pub Crawl of 2014. Happy New Year!

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Liberty City Kings Drag and Burlesque will bring in the New Year at Tabu with sparkle and lots of skin. Photo by Maggie Lee.

Tabu is going burlesque for its NYE festivities, bringing in “genderfuck royals” Notorious OMG and the Liberty City Kings Drag and Burlesque troupe to bring in 2014 with sparkles, shimmies and, at least in OMG’s case, some of the tightest tuck jobs this side of the Interior Illusions Lounge. The soirée is geared to satisfy all your typical NYE cravings: sit-down dinner at 7 p.m., LiCK performance at 9 p.m. and dancing from midnight till close. 7 p.m.-2 a.m., $17-$75, Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar, 200 S. 12th St.

If you know anything about Stimulus events, you know the party organizers don’t mess around. To ring in 2014, Amber Hikes and company are throwing an eight-hour, four-DJ blowout at Voyeur until 3 a.m. For those of you with your heart set on dancing, this is probably one of your safest bets. Turntablists Mz Deluxx, Kash, Sal Dano and Jovi Baby will be spinning everything from hip-hop and house to Top 40 and just plain gay. Just pick a room and go wild. 10 p.m.-3 a.m., $20 (before midnight), Voyeur, 1221 Saint James St. 

Woody’s and Rosewood can’t quite fit the same size crowd as Voyeur, but you better believe it’ll be packed to the gills trying. Four DJs will be spinning in the pub, Rosewood and the upstairs suite and dancefloor. Champagne toast at midnight. 10 p.m.-2 a.m., call for price, Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St.

Feel like a costume soiree? Icandy is hosting its second annual Masquerade Ball. DJ Dominic Romeo will be spinning, there will be a complimentary buffet and a champagne toast at midnight. Those who show up wearing a mask get in at a reduced price. 10 p.m.-2 a.m., call for price, Icandy, 254 S. 12th St.

NEW YEAR’S DAY

The NYE gay celebrations are kicking off extra early with the LGBT Liason Committee at the annual Mummers Day Parade. Catch Brittany Lynn and her diverse team of 17 drag kings and queens who will stop to perform at three locations along the traditional parade route: Broad and Washington, Broad and Pine, and the coveted A-Stand at City Hall. Later, they’ll converge at the Convention Center to see the queens duke it out to become Miss Fancy Brigade 2014. 5 p.m., Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St.

“You have lots of options for NYE, but if you’re looking for a girl party on New Years Day, this is the spot,” says Groove Philly, co-organizer of NYD: 2 Girl Parties 1 Awesome Club. It is co-hosting the twofer with Pulse Events and some friendly faces from Sisters, like former manager Denise Cohen, at Voyeur. Drinking, dancing and goodwill will abound. A portion of the admission benefits the Support Center for Child Advocates, an org that works to secure safe havens for victims of child abuse and neglect. 3 p.m., $7, Voyeur. 

After whooping it up at the Mummers Parade head back toward the Gayborhood to join the New Year’s Day Pink Pub Crawl revelry. The sure-to-be-rowdy group will be winding its way from Tabu to Tavern on Camac (TOC) to Venture Inn to Icandy. Your ticket gets you a complimentary drink and just-for-you drink specials at each location, and a private dance party at TOC, a drag show at Venture Inn and admission to Icandy’s dancefloor. 4 p.m., $25, starts at Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar. For info on other stop, go here.