Shake off the winter blues and bound into spring’s sizzling hot social schedule. There is a thrilling slew of parties about to perk up gay and lesbian calendars, from ostentatious oceanside options to decadent desert diversions. Check the dates, check your luggage and come out to play.

Saint-at-Large Black Party:

March 21, 2009 New York City (www.saintatlarge.com)

The Black Party throbs through the New York night from Saturday night till 3 p.m. Sunday — a seething sea of leather and bare flesh packed onto a dance floor meant to hold half that number of bodies. Brilliant, brutal and bizarre stage shows, featuring some of the best porn names, turn tricks and treats that would warrant infinite XXX ratings. (Gay men)

The Dinah 2009: April 1-5, 2009 Palm Springs, Calif.

Even more securely cemented in the lesbian calendar since its appearance in “The L Word,” The Dinah (www.thedinah.com) is set again to be the scene of thousands of scantily attired stunners going wild at events from dance parties and comedy nights to pool parties. Some of the stars on the bill include Uh Huh Her, Lady Gaga, Indigo Girls, Katy Perry, Margaret Cho, with comics Jessica Kirson and Gina Yashere. (Lesbian)

Cherry Weekend (now Taste for Life) April 16-19, 2009 Washington, D.C.

D.C.’s searing hot party weekend gets a name change (www.cherryfund.org/tasteforlife). Events benefit LGBT community projects. (Gay men)

Purple 9: May 1-3, 2009 Dallas (www.dallaspurpleparty.com)

DJs Tony Moran, Eddie Baez, Alyson Calagna and Phil B headline a weekend of parties that benefit AIDS services of Dallas. (Gay men)

White Party: April 10-13, 2009 Palm Springs, Calif. (www.jeffreysanker.com)

A slew of amazing attractions star at Jeffrey Sanker’s palm-strewn desert get-together: energizing sunset tea dance, after-hours parties, pool parties, supersize sound system and hordes of enthusiastic out-of-towners. Bask poolside in the hot, dry desert air at the foot of the divine San Jacinto Mountains with several thousand sizzling new friends. (Mostly gay men)

Blue Ball Philly: October 7-11, 2009 Philadelphia

Blue Ball (www.blueball.sapphirefund.org) moves from spring to fall in ‘09, and is set again to pack a hot, fit set onto The City of Brotherly Love’s dance floors. It’s one of the biggest and longest-running events on the tightly packed circuit calendar. (Gay men)

Aqua Girl: May 6-10, 2009 Miami

One of the country’s hottest women’s weekends, Aqua Girl’s (www.aquagirl.org) five long days and nights of great music, dazzling dance parties, and thousands of women make South Beach the sexiest Sapphic stop in the States this May. And it gets even better: 100 percent of the net proceeds from Aqua Girl benefit the Aqua Foundation for Women. (Lesbian)

Hot & Dry: May 14-18, 2009 Montreal

Taking over several clubs in Montreal’s gay village and elsewhere, Hot & Dry (www.bbcm.org/hd2009) sees hundreds of Montrealers celebrate the end of the long, cold winter at this AIDS benefit dance weekend. (Mostly gay men)

Sizzle 2009: May 21-26, 2009 Miami

Make like a celebrity and swan in by sea — yacht entrances are all the rage at Sizzle (www.sizzlemiami.com), the gay African-American-popular circuit party with its hot, hot Luau at Virginia Beach Park. Join the throng at two sunny afternoon Haulover Takeovers or book a berth (well, a white-cushioned booth) on the fabulous Tikki Beach cruise boat. The kitsch vessel boasts thatched huts and booze aplenty. (Gay men)

Girls in Wonderland: June 3-7, 2009 Orlando, Fla.

From June 2 to June 8, Disney World goes gay for the annual Gay Day celebration. Adding to the fun, women are in for the best weekend in Wonderland’s (www.girlsinwonderland.com) history with hot pool parties, a Polynesian Luau, a dive-in movie, a live concert and a slamming party at House of Blues — all on the social slate, courtesy of Alison Burgos and Pandora Events. (Lesbian)

Photos: Getty Images

Written and originally posted by GT McCallan

source: www.travel.gay.com