Photos: Neverland rings in the New Year with Purity Ball White Party
Wed. January 4, 2017 11:04 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
photo credit // jennifer catherine photography
Chicago, IL -
Over 800 people from Chicago and all over the Midwest came out for Neverland's fifth annual Purity Ball White Party, featuring DJ Alain Jackinsky and produced by Anthony DiFiore and Martin Luna, at Fantasy Nightclub on Friday, Dec. 30.
The Boystown party featured intricate set and lights and mind-blowing music and performances that crowds have come to expect from the artists and creators who make up Neverland's amazing and tight-knit collaborative team.
"When I first moved to Chicago, there wasn't really a big LGBT option for New Year's," DiFiore told ChicagoPride.com. "People would go to bars and house parties. As we started to develop Purity Ball and move it from around Christmas time to later in the month, it gradually turned into the largest New Year's dance party for our community."
Each year the event has continued to grow as a unique New Year's celebration with over half of of party goers from outside Illinois.
"It's been cool to watch this party evolve," added DiFiore.
This year's Purity Ball featured the work of long-time members like Luna and Raul Redaggio on costumes, beats by Alain Jackinsky, Joe Gillan managing lights, Timmie Foley designing another unforgettable theatrical set and favorite Chicago queens Shea Coulee and Vixen.
"I love Purity Ball because the whole family comes together to create really amazing stuff," DiFiore said.
New York's critically acclaimed drag queen and visual artist Sasha Velour also joined the party.
The Neverland team is currently planning for 2017 with parties coming for spring, Pride, Market Days and more.
(More Neverland Purity Ball Photos by Jennifer Catherine Photography)
The Boystown party featured intricate set and lights and mind-blowing music and performances that crowds have come to expect from the artists and creators who make up Neverland's amazing and tight-knit collaborative team.
"When I first moved to Chicago, there wasn't really a big LGBT option for New Year's," DiFiore told ChicagoPride.com. "People would go to bars and house parties. As we started to develop Purity Ball and move it from around Christmas time to later in the month, it gradually turned into the largest New Year's dance party for our community."
Each year the event has continued to grow as a unique New Year's celebration with over half of of party goers from outside Illinois.
"It's been cool to watch this party evolve," added DiFiore.
This year's Purity Ball featured the work of long-time members like Luna and Raul Redaggio on costumes, beats by Alain Jackinsky, Joe Gillan managing lights, Timmie Foley designing another unforgettable theatrical set and favorite Chicago queens Shea Coulee and Vixen.
"I love Purity Ball because the whole family comes together to create really amazing stuff," DiFiore said.
New York's critically acclaimed drag queen and visual artist Sasha Velour also joined the party.
The Neverland team is currently planning for 2017 with parties coming for spring, Pride, Market Days and more.
(More Neverland Purity Ball Photos by Jennifer Catherine Photography)