Velvet Nation

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Velvet Nation was an highly respected gay dance event that took place at the Nation nightclub located in Southeast Washington, D.C. The party name was derived from the venue name and "Velvet," an ode to the gay community. This event was hosted weekly on Saturday nights, 388 times over seven years, serving more than 741,000 partiers[1]. The event ended when Nation closed its doors on July 16, 2006.

Velvet Nation was created and operated by John Guggenmos and Ed Bailey. The event was respected worldwide as one of the top events of its kind in the U.S. For many years, it had hosted circuit event DJs and talents such as Junior Vasquez, Abel Aguilera, Victor Calderone, The Pet Shop Boys, KD Lang, and The Village People. It was also known for its innovative theme events such as Madonnarama, a night of all Madonna music and video.