Palm Beach County is one of the polo capitals of the world. With lots of beautiful horses and many fields on which to play polo matches, South Florida is a beautiful, ritzy experience for any polo player or aficionado. The Gay Polo League feels the same way, and since 2010 they have hosted International Gay Polo Week, where LGBT people come from all across the country and the world to watch the top players in the game. This year’s Gay Polo Week will be held from Thursday, April 9 through Sunday, April 12.
International Gay Polo Week coincides with the most prestigious polo tournament in the United States, the U.S. Open Polo Championship. Both events will take place at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (3667 120th Ave. S., Wellington). Gay Polo Week kicks off with a VIP party on 
On Saturday, April 11, the International Gay Polo Tournament will take place, starting at noon. Gates to the International Polo Club will open at 10 a.m. to allow people to set up their tailgate areas. The semi-finals will begin at 1 p.m. and the finals will start at 3 p.m. After the game is over and the winners have been recognized, there will be a field-side after party for everyone’s enjoyment. The winning team will go on to play in the final rounds of the U.S. Open Polo Tournament.
Sunday, April 12 is the final day of Gay Polo Week but it’s sure to be a busy one. Join everyone, from spectators to Gay Polo League players, for a beautiful brunch in the late morning. Hors d’oeuvres, main brunch dishes and cool drinks are on the menu. Afterwards, everyone is invited to watch the U.S. Open Polo Tournament matches that will be in progress at the International Polo Club (U.S. Open play continues through April 19).
Tickets are available for purchase right now and come in a variety of different price ranges. General parking passes cost $10 (VIP parking is $25), and general admission to the International Polo Club costs $25. For entrance into the “polotini party,” tickets cost $150 per person. Sunday brunch costs $125 per person. A VIP individual ticket entitles you to admission to all events previously outlined, plus buffet-style food from Aaron’s Catering, drinks and VIP parking. If you’d like to experience the week in style, purchase a VIP tent. With seating for six, it costs $1200, and included in the ticket price is buffet-style food from Aaron’s Catering, table-side service, refreshments, and VIP parking.
Sponsors of Gay Polo Week at the International Polo Club Palm Beach include Phelps Media Group, the main media partner for the event and a leader in equestrian press, marketing and public relations. Other sponsors of Gay Polo Week are Discover Palm Beach County, Cedar Crest Stables of Wellington, Gordon W. Ross Team RE/MAX, J.P. Morgan Chase, McGladrey, La Martina, Wellington Preservation Coalition, Palm Beach Orthopedic Institute, RBC Wealth Management, Palm Beach Illustrated Magazine, Weddings Illustrated Magazine, Accurate Event Group and Delta Air Lines. Raymond Lee Jewelers, with locations across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, is Gay Polo Week’s official partner for marriage equality.
For more information on International Gay Polo Week and the Gay Polo league, visit gaypolo.com.
