PHOTOS: Iconic lesbian Pride celebration hits St. Pete Beach

GIW attendees support their favorite in a twerking contest on the main stage.

Lesbians from all corners of the country ventured to the inaugural Girls in Wonderland beach party this past weekend to celebrate love and equality in a true Floridian paradise.

For anyone who’s celebrated Girls in Wonderland (GIW) before, the iconic festival made its debut on the stunning beaches of St. Petersburg, Florida, after upholding a nearly two-decade-long history in Orlando.

Poolside paradise. Women loving women, as far as the eye can see! 

Tampa and St. Petersburg have experienced a gay renaissance in the last decade. With rapid urban development and a constant influx of people moving to the sunshine state, St. Pete beach was the perfect place to make a central/West Florida debut.

GIW festival attendees keeping cool by the hotel poolside on Sunday, October 9th

Celebrity sightings were abundant, too. This year brought legendary comedians, queer influencers, YouTubers, and a few cast sightings like Cuppie Bragg of Amazon Prime’s original lesbian reality series, Tampa Baes.

Hands up if you want a shot of Gasolina—with YouTuber Chicky Lulu emceeing the Lez Beach House Pool Party on Saturday, October 8th. 

The three-day event kicked off October 7th with a private beach happy hour at the PostCard Inn, the host hotel right on the sandy beaches of St. Pete. True to GIW form, the first night also featured a special comedy show with award-winning comedian and actress Jen Kober. 

The host hotel—the PostCard Inn on the Beach at St. Petersburg, Florida. Rooms were sold out in record speed and were exclusively reserved for GIW’s festivities.

Girls in Wonderland – the party that may not have happened

Despite the extremely close call of Hurricane Ian just a week and a half before, spirits were high and the energy was extremely joyous. Had the storm hit closer to St. Petersburg as it was once predicted, the scene would have been completely different.

Breaking the red tape, escaping conformity, and embracing differences at GIW Beach Party.

Photos by Miné Salkin

A Place For Making Memories

Girls in Wonderland: a place for friends to reunite and make incredible memories together.

Girls in Wonderland is all about making connections, reuniting with friends, and forging memories for the rest of your lifetime.

“I wasn’t 100% sure this party would happen,” said one attendee by the poolside. “But we’re lucky it did. This GIW feels like a more intimate experience, and the serenity of the gulf waters just makes it feel like you escaped to paradise.”

Contestants twerk while DJ Citizen Jane spins the hottest beats on the decks. 
Making new friends is easy at the Dip Pool Party on Sunday, October 8th.
What happens at Girls in Wonderland…. stays at Girls in Wonderland.

Partygoers enjoyed the greatest musical stylings of DJ ZEHNO, DJ Citizen Jane, DJ Pat Pat, DJ Aileen, and more, also with live Vixen dance performances on the stages. 

Partying with a Purpose

Founded in 1998, Pandora Events is led by Alison Burgos, Amy Alonso, and Yesenia Leon. The three entrepreneurs stand behind a number of charities and initiatives supporting the queer community, with proceeds of their events going directly to uplift and enrich the groups across the nation.

Pandora benefits several nonprofits including the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Aqua Foundation for Women, the HRC, Care Resource, NVEEE, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. 

RELATED: Thousands of femmes flock to Orlando for ultimate Lesbian Pride celebration

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