Girls Just Want To Have Fun, ‘80s Prom Returns to ZeyZey

Dust off your mesh gloves, tease that perm sky-high, and grab your flashiest Lycra leggings — Miami’s legendary retro party is back. Sweat Records’ beloved ‘80s Prom returns this Saturday, October 25, to the outdoor playground of ZeyZey, promising a night of synth-soaked nostalgia, wild fashion, and feel-good energy. But heads up: this might be the last one.

Now in its 21st edition, ‘80s Prom has evolved from a local dance night to a full-blown cultural tradition. “In the early 2000s pre-Sweat I threw a weekly ‘80s night called VICE. It was Saturdays at Soho Lounge in the Design District, an amazing two-story vintage dance club,” says Lolo Reskin, founder of Sweat Records. “Out of all of our special events, ‘80s Prom was the crowd favorite, so we kept doing it as an annual roving theme party after the weekly night ended.”

This year’s lineup is full of local heavyhitters. Outside, DJs Lolo and Hottpants will drop a mix of ‘80s pop, R&B, freestyle, and dance, while The State Of — longtime prom stage regulars — hits the stage at 10 p.m. with a full set of covers. “Miami Girls Rock Camp co-founder Steph Taylor and drummer/chef/renaissance woman Nabedi Osorio are two of our favorite people in the whole Miami scene,” Reskin says. “The State Of has been our Prom Band almost every year since 2009, and we are thrilled to celebrate Nabedi’s birthday at Prom this year! They always change up the setlist and have some gems in store.”

Inside, things get darker and deeper. DJs Rippin Kittin and Babyface Blitz curate a goth room with new wave, post-punk, and industrial flair. Drag queen Viola Putx is bringing full Prince fantasy. “This is Miami – if you don’t appreciate diversity, you should probably live somewhere else,” says Reskin. “’80s Prom is about good energy and passion for the music, and our crew embodies that completely down to our decor team and photographer (legendary Miami nightlife photog Jipsy aka Nefarious Girl).”

The crowd has grown and changed over the years, but the spirit prevails. “Miami has a lot more long-term locals than it’s had in a while, so it’s wild how many wonderful people we still know from the early years,” Reskin shares. “We love that it’s evolved though and now people bring their nieces, nephews, grown kids, and families… We have a lot of the same DJs and team, and have held Prom at so many beloved Miami venues: I/O Lounge/The Vagabond, Circa28/Electric Pickle, Gramps, and now ZeyZey. And of course, the outfits! We’ve seen some incredible ensembles over the years, everything from a group in full Devo costumes to the most delightfully tacky actual ‘80s promwear.”

For Sweat, this party acts as an extension of its core mission. “I was fortunate to grow up in Miami in the ‘80s and ‘90s and spent my childhood at Hot Wheels, blissfully skating laps to freestyle, new wave, and everything else that was pop at the time,” Reskin recalls. “Good music never stops being good and I’m grateful that we’re able to offer people who were there a chance to relive it – and younger ones a chance to feel that magic – for a night.”

And if this is the last ride? “Togetherness around music, experienced in real life, is a top tier reason why it’s a gift to be alive,” Reskin says. “Whether you dress up or not, this party is open to anyone who appreciates this music that’s now part of the pop culture canon, and wants to sway to it on a dancefloor with others who feel the same.”

As for what’s next, Reskin is leaving the door open: “We did ‘90s Homecoming three times at the Vagabond in the early 2010s, and Carmel Ophir was a partner in Prom for years as well. The ‘90s are beyond back culturally – I see it every day in the titles we sell at Sweat,” she says. “We are feeling the need to evolve so we’re open to hearing what people want at their dream dance party… Last year, we held it in May around actual prom season, but people said it was too hot and sticky so we moved it back to the fall,” right in time for Halloween season.

After DJing nearly every edition, Lolo has seen it all. “Sweat’s GM and one of my oldest friends Daniel ‘DJ Hottpants’ Blair has been at most Proms – spinning together for all of our friends dancing is one of my favorite parts,” she says. “Last year a couple came through who went to their own prom together in the ‘80s and recreated their photo in our booth! Another highlight was when a couple dressed as Slash and Axl Rose made out with each other all night.”

So what’s the ultimate track to drop at midnight? Without hesitation, she answers: “Q Lazzarus’ ‘Goodbye Horses’ – it’s such a pristine ‘80s vibe, from that shimmering opening melody and building to the euphoric, transcendental chorus. The ‘80s had more than just flash and excess; there’s so much emotion in the music and that’s why it still resonates.”

’80s Prom. Saturday, October 25, at ZeyZey, 353 NE 61st St., Miami; 305-456-2671; zeyzeymiami.com. Tickets cost $10 to $20 via eventbrite.com.