By: Daniel P’Lopez
Photo by: URGE Miami Festival
Urge Miami is a special event happening this Thanksgiving weekend in South Beach, Florida. Raul Griffith is one of the producers and gave us an open insight into what happens at Urge events.
Raul Griffith was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and grew up in Miami, Florida. He has a master’s in Education and a double major in advertising and marketing from Florida International University. Raul has been in the LGBTQ+ entertainment industry for the past twenty-five years, starting at the age of seventeen as an entertainer and performer in various nightclubs in Miami and expanding into the circuit arena across the states.
Raul also became one of the managers at one of the largest nightclubs in Miami and has also worked as a public figure in activism with many organizations nationwide. He also owns a production company called Vision Productions, which is responsible for some of the largest LGBTQ+ events in South Florida, including GALA, which has gone through its 25th year. Raul has been the producer for GALA for seven years, and the company has grown tremendously. It is one of the nation’s most well-attended events and social events regarding the LGBTQ+ community.
Raul explained that URGE Miami Festival was founded about thirteen years ago to provide another option for the House Musical Circuit Arena. The festival became a great destination for Miami, Florida, and many people across the nation. Every year, it grew larger and became what it is today.
Urge is a part of itself, but there is an Urge Festival that happens once a year in Miami during Thanksgiving weekend. Urge travels across the country and holds different parties throughout the year, like on New Year’s and for Miami Gay Pride weekend. There is always something going on!
There are different types of tickets for Urge, but Rual explained that “the cost offers top-tier production with top-tier international DJs worldwide.” There will be many famous DJs, but Urge is the only festival that brings in other brands, says Raul. “It’s to partner with Urge and to showcase their branding and their own DJs.”
Their famous pool party will be on November 30, taking place in South Beach at the Royal Palm. On December 1, the famous 30-year-old beach party extends for three blocks in the sands of South Beach, featuring music from many famous DJs, such as DJ Adham, DJ Liza Rodriguez, and DJ Jesus Montanez.
The closing event is at M2, an iconic nightclub in South Beach. Last but not least, on Monday, December, there is a closing event with even more famous DJs. It is a ray of events that will happen over the weekend, with so much of the South Beach flavor and international DJs and brands offering the best of the production and experience, which is why the prices are high but worth it.
Urge usually attracts about two to three thousand people from all over the country and worldwide to attend the events. Urge is an all-inclusive event that is big on diversity and inclusivity, and they promote it to all. However, anyone going to the nightclubs has to be over twenty-one because alcohol is present.
Urge will have platforms from other healthcare providers to promote safe sex and health and safety for all. “Urge is like a big party reunion, with quite a variety of people who attend, and being with friends, and that is the magic of the festival,” says Raul.
To learn more information and or to purchase tickets, please visit www.urgemiamifestival.com
You can also follow them on social media @urgeMiami