March 31 – April 5, 2026
By OutClique writer
Every spring, Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors transform into a vibrant, sun-soaked playground for one of the most anticipated events on the LGBTQ+ calendar, Lauderdale Tropical Bear Week. From March 31 through April 5, 2026, thousands of bears, cubs, admirers, and allies will gather for six unforgettable days of rooftop pool parties, themed dance nights, beachfront celebrations, live performances, and community-driven experiences.
This year’s excitement reached new heights in January 2026, when Lauderdale Tropical Bear Week made a major entertainment announcement that ignited buzz across the global bear and circuit communities: Horse Meat Disco would headline one of the festival’s marquee events.
What began as a passionate vision has evolved into a full-scale destination experience, blending South Florida’s tropical energy with world-class entertainment and a deeply rooted sense of community. With a lineup spanning iconic venues, outdoor festivals, and high-octane nightlife, this year’s Lauderdale Tropical Bear Week promises its most dynamic and immersive celebration yet.
At the helm of it all is Chuck King, the driving force behind the festival. We sat down with him to talk about the upcoming entertainment, themed parties, venues, and what makes this year’s bear week one for the history books.
OutClique: In January, you made a huge splash announcing Horse Meat Disco as part of this year’s entertainment lineup. What does that booking represent for the growth and global recognition of Lauderdale Tropical Bear Week?
Chuck: Well, Chandler, we decided to really pull out the stops this year and focus hard on our entertainment game, especially the DJ lineup. The growth has allowed us to take bigger risks towards gaining a wider audience, who identify with some well-known brands across the world. We made some bold changes to Bear Week, revamped some events to allow for bigger attendance, and added even more surprises to lots of events. Horse Meat Disco, which will be the headline act at the Bears in the Park event, will attract a wider age range and other LGBTIQQ subcultures who will come to bear week to take part in some events, admire others they may be too shy to meet and chat with, or jump right into the middle of the mix. Most gays know what HMD is, and many have patronized one of these events, but we are putting a whole new spin on HMD by hosting it in an open-air plaza, surrounded by nature in the evening while the sun is setting. It promises to be a magical experience.
OutClique: This year kicks off with a VIP Reception overlooking the ocean at the Sonesta. What inspired this elevated opening event, and how do you hope it sets the tone for the entire week?
Chuck: So, the Sonesta Hotel on Ft Lauderdale Beach is a perfect location for our second host hotel. While a little bit more expensive, the panoramic views are unbeatable. The top floor ballroom is designed with beauty and elegance that blends into the ocean as you scan the waterfront beaches. Sonesta also offers its own section of the beach, and it’s in walking distance to the all-new and revamped closing Beach Party on Sunday, April 5th at Birch State Park. We are thrilled to be working with this beautiful property. It’s the best place for vivid tropical views, and the inspiration spoke for itself on the first moment we stepped onto the glass-wrapped ballroom.
OutClique: The schedule moves seamlessly from daytime pool parties to high-energy dance nights. How do you design that flow so guests feel energized and engaged from morning through late night?
Chuck: Well, to be honest, you have to pace yourself, and siestas are definitely needed daily by the pool or in a hammock on the beach. Lauderdale Tropical Bear Week is what you make of it. Some guests attend select events throughout the week. Some hit them all, with breaks in between, yet some love to hit one event a day, curl up to a good book, and secretly hook up with a bear who just happened to be staying next door to their hotel room or just a floor down. LTBW is meant to be a free-flowing stacked week of events where you likely can’t do them all, because every event is designed to get the maximum amount of fun, sun, entertainment, adrenaline, and social time.
OutClique: Events like BEAR POP at LIT Bar bring drag, music, lawn games, and a more social party vibe. How important is it for you to offer experiences that go beyond the traditional dance floor?
Chuck: This event is one of the new additions to bear week. Lit is not holding back, and they are ready for the bear invasion with drag performances by Nicole Halliwell and Friends, some vendors to browse before the big market on Saturday at the park, music from the 80’s, lawn games like cornhole (a favorite past time of mine), giant connect 4, amazing tiki inspired drinks and cocktails, and some adult game surprises in a dark corner! This is going to be a wonderful addition to bear week’s diverse venue lineup of events. Bear week should be a lot more than just a stage with a terrible entertainer and a bar that’s a block long. Gays are complex, and we expect more when we attend events like this. It needs to be memorable, fun, and outside the box, or it just becomes stagnant. Bear Week is everything but that. Our success has hit globally, with invitations for LTBW to host events in other countries, so we must be doing something right.
OutClique: The Tropical Splash rooftop party has become a signature moment of the week. What makes rooftop events such a key part of the Bear Week experience?
Chuck: Well, who doesn’t love a beautiful pool, 10 stories above Ft Lauderdale, that is packed with everyone and anyone at this event. It’s definitely one of my favorite events, and we always sprinkle in a little surprise entertainment, which always pleases a crowd.
OutClique: Bear Cabaret at Gray Box Theater introduces live performance and comedy by the fabulous Beardonna, into the mix. How does this theatrical element enhance the overall energy of the festival?
Chuck: Well, first of all, the new Grey Box Theater is an awesome venue for seeing a live cabaret. It’s newly revitalized and really well decorated inside. Beardonna is a hysterical parody performer who sexifies sleaze into comedy like no other. The over cabaret show will be produced by the infamous Prouder Together team, and last year’s cabaret was such a successful surprise that it got a standing ovation, and the bears have grown to absolutely love this somewhat cultural, crazy, and beautiful entertainment. The plans are already underway to bring the audience one hell of a show.
OutClique: Camo Pool Party at Ed Lugo Resort offers a playful, carefree atmosphere. What kind of mood were you aiming to create with this event, and how does it complement the rest of the week’s programming?
Chuck: The Camo Pool Party at Ed Lugo Resort is a revamp of a highly successful event that sells out every year. We moved this event to be an evening pool and adult-themed party for those who want to let it all hang out and opt to only wear their birthday suits. This is our darkest party of the week, as to make everyone feel comfortable and free to go “COMANDO”! What happens at base camp stays at base camp. This is one of our most popular events, and this time it will blow your mind.
OutClique: Furrball, Megawoof, and Beefcake XXL are two of the biggest dance nights on the schedule. What makes these branded parties such powerful cornerstones of Bear Week nightlife?
Chuck: Well, a lot of bears and leather bears have been to one of these events, and what a better place to host these but at the best music and dance venue in Wilton Manors!! World Class Sound and Lights, Multiple DJ’s and more choices for your music tastes, and the hottest Bear & Leather Bar around. Eagle Wilton Manors has won Best Leather and Bear Bar 6 years in a row, and the fans are not wrong. You’re guaranteed to have an amazing time!! Come early on Friday or Saturday, as the lines tend to get long after 11 pm. Gold and Silver passes, or online pre-purchased passes, allow you to skip the main line, so buy early and buy online to save time and money. Eagle Wilton Manors is a major sponsor of Bear Week, and the support from this venue is incredible.
OutClique: Bear Village at Richardson Park is the heart of the daytime festival experience with vendors, food, and entertainment. How does this event help strengthen the sense of community that defines Bear Week?
Chuck: Bear Village at Richardson Park is definitely the pinnacle event of the entire week, but don’t overdo it just yet. This year, we have completely changed the style of entertainment and the setup of the village. We will, of course, have vendors with everything from clothing to jewelry and art to sell. We will also have some amazing food vendors and food trucks, DJ’s all day in TWO locations this year, thanks to the support of Red Bull, and of course, the Horse Meat Disco Sunset Tea Dance. This event gets packed by the afternoon, and will get even more packed once the Sunset Tea begins. This is an event you do not want to miss!!
OutClique: With venues ranging from rooftop pools and theaters to parks, clubs, and beaches, what makes Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors the perfect home for such a diverse and expansive event?
Chuck: We are so lucky to have these beautiful cities, which support LGBTQIA events and allow them to grow and thrive. Gay Tourism is growing, despite Florida Politics, which really doesn’t affect South Florida. We are lucky to live in a tropical oasis bubble, and the best thing we can share is our amazing hospitality with other LGBTQIA Folk and Allies. LTBW is for everyone who appreciates a large social event filled with world-class entertainment, in a world-class setting. Without the support of city leaders in Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale, the RBK Productions team, the Sponsors like Visit Lauderdale, Outclique, and many others, the gay community, and the amazing army of volunteers who help make this huge undertaking a reality, we could never pull it off. It takes a Village. A Bear Village!
Thanks, Chandler and Outclique Magazine, for spotlighting this action-packed event!
As the final DJ set fades into the ocean breeze and the last rays of Florida sun disappear behind the skyline, Lauderdale Tropical Bear Week leaves more than memories; it leaves a lasting imprint of connection, celebration, and community. Each poolside laugh, dance floor moment, rooftop toast, and beachside embrace becomes part of a shared story that continues long after the week comes to an end.
With its masterfully curated blend of entertainment, venues, and themed experiences, Lauderdale Tropical Bear Week has firmly established itself as one of the world’s premier bear gatherings. And if this year’s lineup is any indication, the future of this tropical tradition is only getting brighter.
For many, it’s not just a vacation.
It’s a homecoming.
And the countdown to next year has already begun.
