By Bryce Johnson
The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit organization, will hold its annual Chic & Unique Ball on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Edward Otto Zielke, GMCSF director of marketing and sponsorship, said this year’s theme is Step Into Burlesque, and guests can dress up according to the theme.
“We’re hoping that people will feel free to just express themselves tastefully, but in a very unique way that they have never dared dressed before. We’re hoping that maybe people will feel that freedom that comes with that,” Zielke said.
The Chic & Unique Ball is an annual fundraiser to raise money for the season. Zielke said between 300 to 400 guests attend annually.
With the Premium Admissions ticket, priced at $300, the ball begins at 6:30 p.m. Guests can walk the red carpet, participate in an auction and have dinner at 8 p.m. With the VIP Experience ticket, priced at $500, the ball begins at 6 p.m. The ticket offers an open bar, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, early access to the red carpet and more.
“They get a private reception that will also include their own personal silent auction on three luxury items that they’ll get to bid on,” Zielke said. “Then the after party comes, where there’ll be a light show by the Guitar Hotel at the Bora Bora Cabanas. The VIPs will have their own special cabanas to watch the show, as well as the premium people who will also be there.”
The ball will have live and silent auctions, where guests can bid on different items and experiences.
“Our live auction has our vacation experiences. Brand g Vacations has donated a $22,000 trip. Impact Encounters has donated a $13,000 trip to Iceland. We also have two prizes from Seminole Hard Rock itself, that will also include a Party Like a Rock Star package, as well as a VIP performance for our holiday concert in December,” Zielke said.
At the Chic & Unique Ball, the VIP event will include performances from Gabe Salazar, artistic director of GMCSF, as well as Matt Alber, a singer-songwriter in the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, nonprofit organizations will receive awards during the ceremony. The Bears of South Florida will receive the Community Leadership Award Honoring Douglas J. Pew, and CAN Community Health will receive The Corporate Crescendo Award.
Zielke, who has been working with GMCSF for four years, said the organization hopes to elevate the ball every time it’s held.
“Going into the third Chic & Unique Ball, we tend to raise the bar every time we do it. I can already say even before we’ve had the ball experience, that it’s already heightened by all of the wonderful things Seminole Hard Rock is doing for us in terms of the event space, helping with some of the entertainment, the food, the after parties, the VIP parties that we’re going to have that day,” Zielke said.
For more information about the Chic & Unique Ball, visit TheChicandUniqueball.com.
