Red Dress Party PDX 2025
- TBA
- Portland, OR
The Red Dress Party PDX has been one of Portland’s most beloved and visually stunning fundraisers for over two decades. Each spring thousands of people of all genders don vibrant red dresses and gather for an evening of music, dance and mutual support. The event began in 2001 as an intimate house party where a small group of friends vowed to wear red dresses in support of friends living with HIV and AIDS. What started as a playful protest grew into an annual gala attracting national performers, local businesses and donors who were eager to show that philanthropy can also be fabulous. The dress code – a red dress or creative red attire – became the great equaliser; everyone from drag queens and leather daddies to straight couples and trans youth strutted into the ballroom with equal confidence. Over the years the themes evolved (“Red Top,” “Goth, Glam & Gore,” “Wicked Red,” “MasqueRED”) but the mission remained clear: raise funds for organisations serving queer youth, people living with HIV/AIDS and those facing domestic violence while creating a safe space for self expression.
By 2023 the party had outgrown its humble beginnings and moved into the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. According to the Travel Portland events calendar, the 2023 MasqueRED edition took place on Saturday, June 24, 2023, with attendees required to wear a red dress or pre‑approved attire【168699326505049†L174-L181】. Tickets included entrance to the party, entertainment, dancing, food and drinks all evening, and all proceeds benefited Planned Parenthood Columbia‑Willamette and Q Center【168699326505049†L174-L181】【168699326505049†L182-L185】. The party’s organisers, Red Dress PDX, are a registered 501(c)(3) volunteer‑run charitable organisation that channels proceeds to queer youth programmes, HIV/AIDS organisations and survivors of domestic violence【211048383513286†L44-L47】. Their high‑energy events also gave rising drag performers, DJs and dance troupes a stage to perform for thousands of cheering guests.
As the 2023 MasqueRED party concluded, Red Dress PDX announced that it would be the organisation’s last major fundraising event. On its official website the board shared a heartfelt message: “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure and dissolution of Red Dress PDX. The social media sites and reddresspdx.org will be accessible until the end of 2024 so you will have a chance to gather any memories you may want to keep”【211048383513286†L33-L37】. After more than twenty years of service the volunteer team decided to retire the party. While there will be no Red Dress Party PDX in 2025, the organisers emphasised that the causes the event supported remain critical. They encouraged supporters to continue donating to local charities and to carry the red‑dress tradition into other community fundraisers【211048383513286†L44-L47】.
Understanding the legacy of Portland’s Red Dress Party means appreciating both its flamboyant fun and its philanthropic impact. The party helped normalise the idea that anyone, regardless of gender identity, can wear a dress as a symbol of solidarity. Many guests described the liberation they felt walking into a sea of red where gender norms were joyfully subverted. The volunteer organisers managed operations ranging from securing venues, managing logistics and sponsors to curating entertainment and handling after‑party clean up. Proceeds from the 2023 event alone helped Planned Parenthood and Q Center continue sexual health services, youth mentorship programmes and crisis support for the lgbtq+Q community. Over its 20‑plus years the party has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for community organisations while building a network of volunteers and donors dedicated to queer health and well‑being.
Though Portland’s signature red‑dress gala has ended, the spirit lives on in other cities and events. The lgbtq+ Community Center of the Desert in Palm Springs produces the Red Dress/Dress Red Party, an exuberant fundraiser that invites guests to wear red dresses or crimson‑themed outfits. The Center recently announced a “Save the Date” for 21 March 2026, when its next edition will take over the Palm Springs Air Museum【218923301873222†screenshot】. Guests dance beneath historic aircraft and enjoy live entertainment while helping fund The Center’s support services, including mental‑health counselling, senior programming and youth leadership development. San Diego, Palm Springs and New Orleans also host red‑dress runs and parties where participants don red frocks and run through city streets to raise money for HIV/AIDS charities; these events offer a playful alternative for travellers missing Portland’s party.
Portland itself continues to offer a vibrant lgbtq+Q nightlife and numerous charity events even without a Red Dress Party. Visitors in 2025 can look forward to the city’s annual Pride Festival and Parade in June; queer‑friendly neighbourhoods like Old Town Chinatown and the Alberta Arts District offer eclectic bars, drag brunches and community arts events year‑round. Local hotels such as the Jupiter Hotel, The Nines and the Ace Hotel are known for welcoming lgbtq+Q guests with inclusive service and hip décor. The Portland Saturday Market showcases local artisans and provides a taste of the city’s creative culture. Community centres like Q Center and SMYRC (Sexual & Gender Minority Youth Resource Center) host regular workshops, support groups and social events for queer youth and adults. Travellers seeking to honour the Red Dress Party’s mission may choose to volunteer with these organisations or donate to them directly.
If you find yourself in Portland reminiscing about the flamboyant days of Red Dress PDX, consider organising your own red‑themed gathering with friends, whether it’s a dinner party, clothing swap or run through the park. The important thing is to continue supporting organisations that serve the lgbtq+Q community and those affected by HIV/AIDS. The closure of Red Dress PDX marks the end of an era, but it also underscores the power of grassroots volunteerism. Thousands of people wearing red dresses raised awareness, challenged gender norms and funded essential services. By carrying that spirit into other events – from Palm Springs’ 2026 gala【218923301873222†screenshot】 to local grassroots fundraisers – we ensure that the mission of inclusivity and care continues to thrive.