Bring on the heat this summer with Temptation Sundays at Luxor Hotel and Casino starting May 14. The original, longest-running Las Vegas gay pool party returns for its eighth season with weekly Sunday parties through September 24.
Hosted by J.Son of Nakedboynews.com, the energetic atmosphere will entice tourists and locals alike to take part in the only weekly LGBT-focused pool party on The Strip from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. DJ Matt Lucio will be the resident DJ this summer and guest DJs will make special appearances every Sunday throughout the season.
QLife caught up with J.Son ahead of opening to day to check in on what makes Temptation Sundays the hottest and longest running LGBTQ pool party in Las Vegas.
Scheduled events are as follows with additional special events still to be announced:
- May 14: Opening day with DJ Drew G
- May 28: Memorial Day Weekend with DJ Casey Alva
- June 18: EDC Weekend with DJ Pacifico
- July 2: Fourth of July Weekend with DJ Morningstar
- July 30: J.Son’s Birthday Bash with DJ FX Fabian
- August 20: Tempter Fashion Show with DJ Drew G
- September 3: Labor Day Weekend with DJ Shane Phoenix
- September 24: End of Season Blowout Party
General admission to Temptation Sundays is $20. MGM Resorts guests, locals and military members can enjoy the party with a discounted admission of $10. For complimentary entry before 2 p.m. guests may visit facebook.com/luxorlgbt and sign up for the event guest list.
QLife: J.Son let’s start with the basic! When does this season start?
JDot: This is going to be our 8th season when we open on May 14th at the Luxor North Pool. The party runs from 1pm to 7pm and runs through the last Sunday of September.
QLife: Wow! A long season this year.
JDot: Yes. We’re going all the way. We did one in October to coincide with Las Vegas Pride and that was the latest event we’ve ever done. Every month we’ll have a pride-sponsored event where they will deck out a cabana with a rainbow flag.
QLife: How do our readers get on the guest list?
JDot: A few years ago we use a text messaging service for the guest list but now we're using Eventbrite. Entry is free if they get on the guest list, but the guest list closes on Saturday, so they have to sign up the day before. The opening day guest list is available now at vegasgaypoolparty.com and in a few weeks they can sign up weeks in advance, so if they know they are coming to Vegas, they can register ahead of time. Checkin is easy too since the can just show us their app.
QLife: What about entertainment this year?
JDot: Our resident DJ Matt Lucio will be joining us. It'll be his seventh summer with us. Every week we will also have a guest DJ. Some of the DJs from years past will be back and we're adding to the repertoire of DJs for this year so there's going to be some fun and new exciting DJs that are are well known in the gay scene that should bring a little bit more excitement.
QLife: To what do you attribute the success of Temptation Sundays? Why do people keep coming back year after year.?
JDot: I really pride myself on welcoming everyone and making sure everybody has an amazing time. I've been to other parties that are not successful and it seems they don't you know.
I really pride myself on making sure I go and say hi to everybody. I'm very interactive on social media. If someone I don’t know tags us at an event, I make sure to message them and thank them so much for joining us, tell them “I love your picture, can I use that picture on the website?” I make people feel included.
The staff at he Luxor goes above and beyond as well with the Cabana service and the cocktail service. We’ve had a lot of the same cocktail servers from the beginning, so they build a rapport with with the customer and make them feel welcome.
QLife: What should a tourist know about Temptation Sundays if they’ve never been before.
JDot: Join us and experience and amazing afternoon at a Vegas pool party. You’ll get to see a different side of Vegas because while the pool party is a part, and we do over the top things that happen at the pool, we also provide a look at Vegas that locals enjoy. We provide an atmosphere.
The pool is is is big enough that there is one half over the top crazy and the other side tends to draw a more relaxed crowd–the kind of the guys who just want to play with a beach ball, play a little pool volleyball. It can be a little bit of everything for everybody.
I've seen a lot of times where somebody comes by themselves, and they are nervous since it’s the first time they are visiting so they don't know anybody in town. Our cocktail servers will say, “Hey, I know this group of guys over here and they're always really fun. Go say hi.” Or one servers will bring the guy over to a group of people and they make a connection. We really have a great staff that takes care of the customers and make sure that everybody's having a good time. I don't think you see that everywhere.
Come and enjoy it, check it out, listen to amazing DJs.
QLife: Sunday that's typically the day when most people tend to leave Vegas to go home and get ready for their Monday morning.
JDot: Check out at 11 or 12, check your bags at the bell desk, and make a later plane flight. The pool stays open till seven o'clock and we do have the outside shower so you can rinse off the chlorine, run inside to the bathroom and change into your plane clothes, grab your stuff, get in a Lyft or Uber and be on your merry way.
