There’s a warehouse party in Toronto this week where the theme is just ‘sparkles’

Taylor Swift-mania in Toronto may be on the downswing following the singer’s legendary stint in the city, but party people in the city are getting a new opportinity to adorn themselves in all that glitters at the sparkliest party of the year.

What began as a chance for founder, David Macleod, to forget his troubles and let loose under the disco ball (or, disco balls, but more on that later) 13 years ago has blossomed into an annual event that’s beloved by the city’s art, fashion and queer communities — and this year’s German Sparkle Party from Promise, the collective behind the iconic Cherry Beach raves in the summer, is right around the corner.

This year, the event, which sees hundreds of revelers hit the dance floor in their most glittery garb backed by beats from local DJs, will be happening at Black Creek Assembly, but in its original year, it took on a much smaller venue.

“The first one was held at the Great Hall and we hung 100 disco balls from the ceiling,” David tells blogTO.

“I was so worried that we had a mistake and that Toronto audiences didn’t want to dance to techno in anything but black clothes,” he says, but that first year, the party saw a great turnout of open-minded attendees keen to dance along to serious tunes while getting playful with the theme.

The party itself, David tells blogTO, arose from that very juxtaposition; the desire for a playful, “kooky” party which arose from a difficult time.

“I came back from San Fran after a breakup and was feeling down,” he says. “I saw a music video called German Sparkle Party and it made me feel great and want to go to a kooky party, so I decided to run with that theme.”

Suffice it to say, over a decade later, the theme resonated with Toronto’s party scene.

According to David, the idea of “prioritizing what to take seriously and what to have fun with” is at the core of the party, and it’s also a major part of what makes the party, and the slew of other equally unique events Promise hosts throughout the year, so special.

Jen Paukman, Promise’s Marketing Manager, adds that the party’s attendees also add to the distinct atmosphere of the event.

“What makes the German Sparkle Party truly special is that it gives the audience, who are the superstars of the culture something unexpected to look forward to that breaks away from the mundanity of everyday life,” she tells blogTO.

“It’s a unique theme, one that packs the sizzle of all things sparkly and connects Toronto’s queer, art, fashion, music, and creative communities under one raw, underground warehouse roof.”

This year’s party is taking place on Nov. 30, with festivities kicking off at 10 p.m. and rolling all the way into the wee hours of the morning on Sunday, Dec. 1, and it’s set to feature a dazzling (and not just because of the sparkles they’ll be wearing) lineup of DJs from Toronto and beyond.

There are still a handful of tickets available for the German Sparkle Party 2024, starting at $62, and you find more details, as well as keep up with Promise’s latest events by checking out their Instagram.