First & foremost, we are die-hard music lovers

Back in 2002, Grapefruit founder Shane Percy had an idea for a queer dance event specifically focused on an eclectic mix of pop music, classic club tracks & disco. At the time, this wasn't really on the menu in Toronto. But as fate would have it, a coworker's family owned a venue and were interested in trying something new.

The first Grapefruit happened November 16th, 2002 at Tequila Lounge, 794 Bathurst Street (now Coda) in Toronto's Annex area. The party's unique format & happy vibe quickly gained a loyal following and began attracting the attention of Toronto media. Each party drew larger crowds and the buzz grew. The following year, Shane & Brad were introduced and instantly connected. The two have been DJ partners ever since, spinning side-by-side, playing off each other's best instincts, working up the dance floor over the course of their high-energy five hour sets.

In 2004, with the aim of reaching a wider audience, Grapefruit moved Downtown to the world-famous Fly Nightclub, where the party became a Toronto institution and ran for a further eight amazing years. Some faces you may have spotted at Grapefruit include New York drag legends Sherry Vine and Jackie Beat, pop singer Nelly Furtado, queer rapper Cazwell and many more. 

The event was paused  in 2013 amid a rapidly changing city. The return in 2020 was delayed by the pandemic, but in late 2021 the third iteration of Grapefruit  finally launched at the iconic Black Eagle in the heart of Toronto's Gay Village. Good vibes only. Come join the party!