By Denny Patterson
Are you ready to get down on the dance floor or relax by the pool? We sure hope so because Girls in Wonderland, Florida’s most iconic and epic event for queer women, is returning to Orlando for its 23rd anniversary.
Taking place May 30-June 3, 2024 at a brand-new location, TownePlace Suites Orlando/SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Girls in Wonderland is more than a party – it’s an unforgettable experience of community engagement, support, and camaraderie. Founded in 2000 by Amy Alonso, Alison Burgos and Yesenia Leon, the women behind Pandora Events, this powerhouse lesbian event production company from South Beach has gone on to create and produce some of the hottest LGBTQ+ soirées and music festivals in the country.
In a little over two decades, Girls in Wonderland has become a force on its own with over 10,000 attendees coming from near and far, representing all colors of the rainbow. This year is expected to be no different, and Burgos took some time out of her busy schedule to talk more about the event with OutClique.
Denny Patterson: Thank you for taking some time to chat with me about Girls in Wonderland, which is celebrating its 23rd year! How exciting is that?
Alison Burgos: It’s very exciting, but it’s making me feel a little bit old (laughs). I mean, time flies. My partners and I started thinking about getting involved and creating safe spaces/experiences for the LGBTQ+ community in 1999, and it’s been a whirlwind. It was an unexpected path and journey, but it’s been rewarding. It’s been very special to have a part in creating community, building community, protecting community, and standing for community. We’ve been very committed as activists in fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and equality, both locally and nationally, and we’ve created a party with a purposeful atmosphere.
Denny Patterson: What can attendees expect this year?
Alison Burgos: First off, we’re at a new property this year. We’re very excited to be back with the Marriott family, which has been a great partner and ally to the LGBTQ+ community for many years. It’s two properties with this big pool in the middle, and what’s different this year is that we’re going to have an indoor component to our pool parties. There’s going to be this indoor day club that will have a whole separate set of DJs playing fun house music, and we’ll have games in there like the Newlywed Game and Drag Queen Bingo. Our pool party will be in full effect with dancers and shows, and we signed Kristin Key, a tremendous comedian that was on Last Comic Standing. I saw her several months ago, and she’s so funny. I think the girls in our audience are going to love her. I’m also excited about being at Mango’s on Friday night. It’s a staple in Miami Beach, and they opened a location on I-Drive in Orlando around 4-5 years ago, and we’ve been wanting to collaborate with them. It’s a big, beautiful space and they do amazing shows. We’re going to have the phenomenal rapper Snow Tha Product headlining an event, and we’ve got an incredible lineup of DJs including Chloe Star, Gabby B, Rose Garcia, Citizen Jane, and DJ Tatiana. It’s going to be so electric in there. Then on Saturday, we’re going to be at New York Beer Project, which is this beautiful brewery in Winter Garden. We’ve been doing themes for our Saturday night parties, and this year’s theme is prohibition. Flappers, gangsters, very 1920s.
Denny Patterson: How would you say Girls in Wonderland differs from other events geared towards LGBTQ+ women, like The Dinah?
Alison Burgos: I think when you attend, you definitely realize that there is a difference. I say it all the time – we stand on the shoulders of The Dinah and what Mariah, Sandy, and Robin created 30 plus years ago. I remember going to my first Dinah when I created Aqua Girl in 1999, and what they’ve done is unique and special, but I think it’s also very LA. Girls in Wonderland started as more of a grassroots, southern Florida kind of vibe. It’s grown and we have a lot of national and international attendees now, but at heart, I think we have a southern hospitality. I also think we probably skew a little younger. You see a wide range of ages at The Dinah and I think it feels a bit more formal. We’re more like, let your hair down, come as you are, and have fun. The Dinah and Girls in Wonderland are the two largest women’s festivals in the country, and we’re friends. We support each other, we work together, and we promote each other. I think that’s so special. In a world where people can be catty, competitive, or put each other down, I love that we’ve all worked to create a community where we rise, support, and lift each other up.
Denny Patterson: Florida has not been too kind to the LGBTQ+ community in recent years. Can you talk about how important it is for events like Girls in Wonderland to reconnect with the queer community?
Alison Burgos: One hundred percent. Interestingly, when our governor passed some bills last year like “Don’t Say Gay,” which we’ve had legal victories with recently, but also bills that affect our transgender community, I received a bunch of emails saying we have to leave and can’t hold an event like this in Florida. I was like, this is hard. We’re activists. We struggled and were in a very conservative state when it came to LGBTQ+ rights 24 years ago, and we were committed to fighting for those rights. We have been very involved with the human rights ordinances that were passed in Miami-Dade, Orlando, and Tampa, so I’m certainly not going to walk or run away or leave my state because there are some backwards politicians in office right now that are sitting on the wrong side of history. I’m going to stand and create a safe space. I’m going to protect and fight for my community. We are working with the mayor’s office and Visit Orlando, as well as the Orange County Sheriff’s office to make sure that our festival is successful and safe. Everyone has been so supportive, and they ensure that our attendees will have a wonderful weekend.
Denny Patterson: Before we wrap up, is there anything else you would like to mention or plug?
Alison Burgos:I would like to mention that we also partner with KindRED Pride, I’m on their board, and we’re doing something called the Pride Cup. This is our second year doing it, and we have amazing athletic experiences for people who maybe don’t want to party as much. We’ll have a kickball tournament, a volleyball tournament, golf, pickleball, and a 5k run. It’s going to be super fun.
