The New Gay8 Festival is Coming to Little Havana

Like many neighborhoods in Miami, Little Havana has worried about change. One of the best-known Hispanic neighborhoods in the country, Little Havana is full of residents who are wondering what the future holds: Gentrification and a higher standard of living, or stagnation and a higher crime rate.

Hopeful that gentrification and beautification efforts will translate into a more vibrant neighborhood, Little Havana LGBT leaders (alongside Miami city LGBT leaders) will be throwing a new music, food and film festival that is geared toward Miami's Hispanic LGBT population (but of course welcoming of everyone). It's called the Gay8 (pronounced "Gay-Ocho") festival, and it will be held in Little Havana's Calle Ocho from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, January 17. There will also be a few events presented before the festival day.

The first event will be held at Ball & Chain (1513 SW 8th St., Miami) on Friday, January 15 at 7 p.m. It is the VIP party, which doubles as a music concert and the venue of the first annual "Pa'Lante Awards." The people honored have been picked because they have pushed the South Florida community forward ("pa'lante," short for "para adelante," means "to move forward"). The honorees this year are H.T. Smith (black civil rights), Julia Dawson (women and LGBT people), Louis Canales (South Beach visionary), and Richard Gonzalez (LGBT rights). To purchase your VIP ticket, visit gay8festival.com. On Saturday, January 16, there will be a dance party at Bailo Night Club (7020 NW 72nd Ave., Miami), beginning at midnight and ending when you're all danced out.

The big festival day will be Sunday, January 17, and the festival will take place on Calle Ocho (SW 8th St.) between 14th Ave. and 17th Ave. Many food trucks will be lining the streets for your enjoyment, as will many artists who wish to showcase their works for purchase. Both the food trucks and the artists will be lined up along Calle Ocho between 14th and 16th Avenues beginning at 11:30 a.m.

The music stage will be set up at the end of the festival route, at Calle Ocho and 17th Avenue. If you want to hear music from locally-known guest DJs, check out their separate stage at the Little Havana Cigar Shop (located at Calle Ocho and 15th Avenue). If you're wondering who will be performing on the main stage, the Gay8 Festival organizers put together a very impressive roster of Latin music hitmakers, including PALO!, Su�nalo, Lucy Grau, and the Spam Allstars.

PALO! is an Afro-Cuban funk bank that was first formed in Miami back in 2003. They were nominated for a Latin Grammy Award in 2014 for Best Contemporary Tropical Album. The nine-member group Su�nalo has won a number of Miami New Times Best of Miami Awards, including Best Latin Rock Band in 2005, and Best Latin Band in 2011. Lucy Grau is a Miami Beach native and is well-known as a tropical salsa and dance music artist. The Spam Allstars, also consisting of nine members, have performed hip-hop, funk, and electronica for nearly 20 years, and have toured worldwide.

Miami-Dade College's Tower Theater (1508 SW 8th St.) and the Miami International Film Festival will be playing LGBT-themed films all day long. After the party, you can join the crowds who will be attending the after-party at Cuba Ocho (1465 SW 8th St.). The party begins at 9 p.m., so don't be late!

VIP ticket options include a $100 option which includes an all-access weekend pass (from Friday night through to the Sunday after-party), free valet parking, complimentary drinks at the VIP reception, access to a cigar tent at the festival, and a "Schwag" bag. If you're interested in a custom tailored fancy experience, you can pay $5,000 and name your benefits, including the ones already mentioned. If you're interested in being a vendor at the festival, tables and space cost $250. For all of the aforementioned options, visit gay8festival.com/purchase to learn more.

Hotspots Media Group is proud to be a sponsor of the Gay8 Festival. Sponsors include, but are not limited to, The Miami Foundation, The Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald, Jackson Memorial Hospital, the Miami International Film Festival, Univision, Georgie's Alibi/Monkey Bar, Equality Florida, Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, SAVE, and Calle Ocho Viernes Culturales.

For more information on the Gay8 Festival, visit gay8festival.com. "Like" them on Facebook at facebook.com/gay8festival.