Deep-Sea Creatures Are Making Waves for Wigwood's Third Year

Wigwood at Sea is set to happen in less than three weeks. So if you see a fierce giant squid out of the water, click-clacking in heels to the mainland, do not be alarmed. Wigwood, dubbed Miami's best festival by New Times, will return February 1 through 3. But this time, the highly anticipated fest is taking the party to the water. If you haven't begun prepping your looks for Wigwood's three-day deep-sea-creature-themed bash, you will be sorry.

Since the inception of Queef Latina and Gramps' Adam Gersten's annual festival in 2017, Wigwood's celebration of queer culture has rapidly evolved into a three-day extravaganza. The fest has exploded, drawing hundreds of attendees in their kookiest looks that seem to get only weirder and more elaborate. Before the announcement of the festival's 2019 lineup, 100 presale weekend passes sold out in three days, Queef says. But she credits artist Brian Butler, who designs the visuals for the fest, as instrumental to Wigwood's success. "You know, it's like what came first, the chicken or the egg?" Queef jokes. "Obviously, the festival came first, but it's not until he solidified it in his artwork and his branding that it started to kind of build a following... The artwork is what sets off that creativity spark in people's minds, and then that's when people start creating their looks and their concepts around it."
For the first time, the bash will set sail aboard the Musette yacht for a four-hour cruise on Biscayne Bay Friday, February 1. Deep-sea creatures will make their way to Gramps the next day, February 2, for a night of fun. The festivities will wrap up at the Freehand Miami with a free pool party Sunday, February 3.

Though the fest presents both local and national entertainment, Wigwood is a major platform for homegrown performers — about 75 percent of the lineup is from South Florida. "I'm proud of Wigwood because it drives the community to do better," Queef says. "It's given the community something to look up to every year. Wigwood for so many people is their Met Gala. It's their opportunity to work towards something better."
The stacked lineup offers something for everyone, including queer performances, drag shows, live music, DJs, artists, and vendors. Expect drag performances by locals Miss Toto, Kunst, Jupiter Velvet, Kat Wilderness, King Femme, and Aurora Whorealis, and out-of-towners such as headliner Milk of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6 and All Stars 3, Dragula's Abhora, Mama Celeste, and Merrie Cherry. Holding down the decks will be DJs Gami Mami, DJ Zehno, Cabezita, Antpuke, Get Face, DJ Hottpants, and Keanu Orange. If you're looking to catch live music performances, the fest has you covered with artists such as Dorian Electra, BeBe Deluxe, and Tama Gucci. Festival vendors include Milly's Empanada Factory, Serena ChaCha Wigs, Hysociety Smoke Shop, and Hands by Helen.

"The biggest struggle definitely was finding the right headliner that was going to mix with the vibe and the flow of the party... [Milk] is very artistic, just different." Queef says. "[Milk] still very much can do the traditional drag and pageant but is also really quirky and artsy, and I think that is very indicative of our community here where it is not strictly one type of drag. Any drag performer can kind of experiment in all different facets of performance art, and that's what Milk does very well."
Queef also shares that Milk will perform twice the night of February 2 and will appear at a meet-and-greet in Gramps' backroom, Shirley's.

Tickets to Wigwood at Sea are still available at wigwoodmiami.com. But don't sleep on them, Miami.

Queef Latina says, "Get ready to get wet!"

Here's the full festival lineup:

• Milk
  
• Abhora (all three days)
  
• Mama Celeste
  
• Mthr Trsa
  
• Hairy Bradshaw
  
• Merrie Cherry
  
• Astrud Aurelia
  
• Violencia Exclamation Point
  
• Apollo Infiniti
  
• Miss Toto
  
• Kunst
  
• Jupiter Velvet
  
• Andro Gin
  
• Adelaide Queen
  
• Opulence Queen
  
• Robyn Sin Velvet
  
• Kat Wilderness
  
• King Femme
  
• Aurora Whorealis
  
• Juanita LaBanjee
  
• Morphine Love
  
• Yoko Oso
  
• Shelley Novak
  
• Candi Dixx
  
• LaDonna Sucia
  
• Alana Blahnik
  
• Regina Black
  
• Persephone Von Lips
  
• Vex the Thing
  
• Trisha Putas
  
• LaCienega
  
• Dasha Dix
  
• Adora
  
• Celia Booze
  
• Opal Am Rah
  
• Karla Croqueta
  
• Dang Ho Yu Sickning
  
• Sweet Tea
  
• Moxie Mopp
  
• Le Sissy Noir
  
• Jackie Jae
  
• Azula Faux Sapphire
  
• Lolita Cabrón
  
• Petty Boop
  
• Patent Pending
  
• Fka Twink
  
• Aura Velvet
  
• Lady Paraiso
  
• Sensitive Black Hottie
  
• Ded Cooteer
  
• Remy Black
  
• Viola Putx
  
• Mala Matias
  
• Dorian Electra
  
• BeBe Deluxe
  
• Tama Gucci
  
• Niña
  
• Miss Michigan
  
• Pauli Cakes
  
• Cqqchifruit
  
• Hannah Lou
  
• Gami Mami
  
• DJ Zehno
  
• Cabezita
  
• Antpuke
  
• Get Face
  
• Uessbee
  
• DJ Hottpants
  
• Keanu Orange
  
• Viscrit
  

Wigwood at Sea 2019. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, February 1, aboard the Musette, Bayside Marina, 1301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Tickets cost $55 plus fees and include admission to the yacht party and Gramps' Saturday festival via ticketfly.com.

11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday, February 2, at Gramps, 176 NW 24th St., Miami; 305-699-2669; gramps.com. Tickets cost $15 plus fees via ticketfly.com.

1 to 7 p.m. Sunday, February 3, at the Broken Shaker, 2727 Indian Creek Dr., Miami Beach; 305-531-2727; freehandhotels.com. Admission is free.