IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION:

Dear Guests, For 2023, due to the event being held the same weekend as Formula 1, we will have NO PARKING available at the Fairmont Hotel. All guests should arrive by ride share and be dropped off at the designated ride share drop-off on W. Cesar Chavez St. at the Austin Convention center.

Great news... over half of our attendees skipped the registration line last year by pre-registering before the Gala last year!!

On Thursday (10/19) and Friday (10/20), we will have PRE-REGISTRATION sites at the following locations where you can register, pick up your gala wristband, and purchase a Fairmont drink wristband (3-drink and 5-drink wristbands are available).

Each location will be staffed from 10am-6pm on Thursday and Friday.

OutYouth North Location (they have a parking lot)
3007 N Lamar Blvd
Ste 101
Austin, TX 78705

TEA Board Member Home (street parking available)
2211 E. 5th Street
Austin, TX 78702

Fairmont Austin (Free Self-Parking for 30 mins)
101 Red River St
2nd Floor Landing
Austin, TX 78701

…SO WHY SHOULD I PRE-REGISTER AND BUY A DRINK WRISTBAND, HENNY?

Because no one has time for long lines.
Because for anyone who pre-registers, you’ll receive a FREE Unite the Fight clacking fan (you choose your contestant!) or a Unite the Fight t-shirt (while supplies last)
Because you can zoom past registration lines and go RIGHT TO THE BAR on Saturday.

…SO WHAT’S THE OTHER TEA ABOUT PREREGISTRATION?

ALL attendees must pre-register individually. (Table purchasers will not be able to pick up 10 wristbands - only their individual wristband. Components of our event require individual registration.)
ALL attendees may only purchase one Fairmont drink wristband each so we can verify ID. 3-drink wristbands cost $50, and 5-drink wristbands cost $80. (These are Fairmont’s prices - TEA does not benefit from alcohol sales - but we are pre-selling to mitigate lines.)

The Equality Alliance (TEA) cannot WAIT to see you at the Unite the Fight gala this year! You may be asking yourself, what’s the TEA?

HOW DO I SKIP THE LINES WHEN I ARRIVE AT THE GALA?

PRE-REGISTER at one of the locations listed above!

WHEN AND WHERE DO I ARRIVE THE NIGHT OF THE GALA
All guests are recommended to arrive at 5pm via ride share service and be dropped off at the designated ride share drop-off on W. Cesar Chavez St. at the Austin Convention Center motor court where you'll be greeted with a COMPLIMENTARY welcome cocktail courtesy of the hotel. The hotel regretfully DOES NOT have parking or valet available for our guests due to Formula 1 weekend running concurrently with our event.

AFTER I'M DROPPED OFF AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, WHAT HAPPENS

All guests will enter our event through the Austin Convention Center motor court on W. Cesar Chavez St. where we will have an arrival party with entertainment and a welcome cocktail before you proceed over the sky bridge into the Fairmont hotel.

GA guests will then proceed to registration on floor 4, then move to the Gala on floor 5 where all GA bars will be open in the foyer prior to the ballroom doors opening.

VIP Guests with pre-party access will then proceed to the Palm Court on the 7th floor pool deck for a private VIP welcome party with complimentary bar.

We will have 9 bars in the ballroom, and 6 bars outside the ballroom as well as stations to purchase drink wristbands.

Arriving early will ensure you have a drink in hand sooner and get this party started!!

WHAT DO I WEAR?
We always say that people at our gala dress “VMA's meets Met Gala.” But don’t let that limit you either. Our guests aren’t afraid of color, sparkle, makeup, and the loudest accoutrement possible. Be fabulous and feel fabulous... Be you!