Nearly 4,000 LGBTs and allies are expected to converge at Fire Island in New York this summer for an annual celebration of the people of color community, an event that is expected to have an increased presence from the Philadelphia LGBT population.
The eighth annual Fire Island Black Out will feature three days of beachside entertainment, Aug. 13-15, with parties, performances and activities that will bring together the LGBT of color community from throughout the country.
FIBO launched its headquarters in Philadelphia last year after current president and CEO James Wellons, a Philadelphia resident, bought the company from its previous owners, who organized the first FIBO in 2003.
“There were basically two friends who wanted to do something different in the summer and were tossing around ideas, and one of them said, ‘Well, why don’t we go to Fire Island?’ and the other said, ‘Black people don’t go there,’ but they decided why not?” Wellons said. “So they got about 50 people together and went out and had a great time.”
Wellons said that what began as just a “fun day at the beach” has been rapidly growing in the past few years, with last year’s FIBO drawing about 3,200 people.
The 2010 FIBO will kick off with a free cocktail reception Aug. 13 at Fire Island’s Hilton Garden Inn, the host hotel for the event, with food, drinks, music and countless networking opportunities.
The party continues Aug. 14 with a daylong schedule of beach events, including a volleyball tournament, beach tent contest, poetry slam, swimwear fashion show and the Bump & Dip Dance and Pool Party at the Ice Palace in Cherry Grove.
“It’s a really great day where people just come out and picnic, barbeque, fly kites, play tag football and just enjoy one another’s company,” Wellons said, noting that guests can spend the weekend at the host hotel or make the event into a daytrip.
Those who choose to stay over can enjoy brunch, relaxation at the beach and a sunset finale party on Aug. 15, and FIBO will also host an exclusive pool party, happy hour and movie night for participants who stay beyond the weekend.
This year, FIBO celebrated its annual season launch party in Philadelphia, coinciding with Philadelphia Black Gay Pride in April.
Wellons said the event was a well-attended success, and he’s eager for Philly to make a similarly strong showing at this summer’s FIBO.
“We’re really trying to get Philadelphia more acquainted with and involved with the event. Since it’s in New York, it’s typically drawn people from the New York area and Connecticut and surrounding states, but now that we’re based here in Philly, we want to reach out and encourage people from our city to participate.”
Guests traveling from Philadelphia can take advantage of a chartered bus heading to Fire Island at 8 a.m. Aug. 14 and returning at the same time the following day, for $90 per person.
Hotel and bus packages are also available for overnight guests, with the roundtrip bus and two-night stay for $350 for a single room or $220 per person for a double-occupancy room.
For more information, visit www.fireislandblackout.com.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].