Blake Baker
President
TIMELINE
2005: Volunteered for Purple Foundation as DJ driver.
2006: Joined Purple Foundation as a junior board member.
2009: Became President of Purple Foundation.
2010: Celebrated Purple’s 10 year anniversary.
2017: Resigned from board to focus on career.
2017–2020: Assisted behind the scenes and managed DJ lineup.
2020–2021: COVID 19 Pandemic.
Late 2021: Returned to run Purple Foundation in a new capacity, as the organization’s first and only full-time employee.
Early 2022: Rebuilt the board and organization from the ground up.
2022: Led the organization to produce the most financially successful Purple Weekend in organization’s 20-year history.
2023: Led the organization to produce the largest Purple Weekend ever utilizing some of Dallas’s most iconic venues including Fair Park Coliseum and AT&T Performing Arts Center.
CURRENT UPDATES
2026
Closing the door to this truck marked the end of another Purple weekend. If you’ve been following along on this wild ride, it’s probably my twenty-first one (I think). It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around it, but my body feels every single year. People often ask me if it gets any easier. The short answer is no, but the truth is much more than that. Purple’s year was a series of setbacks, surprises (both good and bad), realizing that a well vetted and trusted friend could be massively disappointing (and quite destructive) while others showed up in ways I never imagined and put in the hard work to get us where we are today.
Purple 2026 was a monumental achievement in virtually every aspect, but it didn’t come easy. Honestly, I’m as shocked as anyone just how amazing it was, and I know it wasn’t perfect either but damn it got close. If you’ve ever worked with me, you know I’m a worrier, an over-thinker, and my “wheels” are always turning. We could be sold out, but if people aren’t there early enough, I’m still panicking. Even after over two decades, I never take our success for granted. When we deliver a successful event, I never forget how close we came to failing—how many times we almost came up short. People don’t realize that an organization like Purple is delicate and volatile and needs to be protected. Our success depends on the careful coordination of so many separate but interconnected puzzle pieces fitting together at precisely the right time, and a whole lot of luck. So when the event is a success, I’m genuinely surprised as everyone else and also very relieved.
Purple takes literally hundreds of people to make happen, and no matter how big or small the part, the puzzle would not be complete without every single piece. There are some that deserve special recognition.
First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all the current board and committee members of Purple Foundation: Scott, Sara, Michael S, Chris, Roman, Greg, Brandon, Michael C., and Yousef. Each and every one of them has poured their heart and soul into this organization, especially during this weekend, and their efforts are truly evident. I want to Thank them for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading this incredible thing called Purple. Together, we have taken this organization to unprecedented heights, surpassing all my wildest dreams.
I must extend special recognition and appreciation to a few exceptional individuals who have played a pivotal role in our success this year.
I don’t know how we managed to run this organization for so long before Scott joined our ranks. He and I are nearly always in sync and on the same page. His contributions have been instrumental to our operations at every level and have significantly contributed to our success. In fact, we even created a new role within our organization to acknowledge him and utilize his many abilities. Watching him take on this role and working with him by my side has been refreshing. By him taking on additional leadership responsibilities, it has allowed me space to focus, time to breathe, and most importantly, it has helped me to enjoy Purple again. Running this organization full time is a lot harder than it looks and it can wear you down.
This year Greg encountered many challenges and insanely high expectations, it would have broken most people. It did not break him. In fact, it fueled him, enabling him to deliver what can be described as one of the most exceptional dance party productions ever, gay or straight, EDM or circuit. He took over our mangled production department and transformed it into a powerhouse, leaving us all in awe of his creativity and expertise. Working alongside Greg and Scott on production has been amazing. It has created the dynamic that Purple needed and the final product was stunning.
Brandon‘s creativity, talent, and overall sass brought life to our costumes and performances. He is undoubtedly one of the hardest working members of this organization throughout the year, and his efforts are truly impressive.
We owe a significant portion of our success to Bryant Taylor. Just a few weeks before Purple 2025, we gave him the daunting task of managing our social media presence and turning things around. Despite the immense pressure, he rose to the occasion and delivered. This year, he has taken our social media to new heights, introducing innovative programs, enhancing other areas such as graphics and marketing, and becoming a beacon of positivity and inspiration. His impact on our organization has been profound, and we are truly grateful to have him in such an important role.
When Eric is there, I don’t even have to think about what’s happening at the front or worry about our guests not having the best experience possible. That’s the best feeling. I’ve watched him grow into a confident leader and a voice for all sectors our community. His loyalty and dedication to his staff and clients are truly inspiring. I’m grateful to have him on our team and proud to call him a friend.
Sara, so much to say…hers will be a separate post lol
Patti! If you’ve been in this industry more than a minute, Patti has likely saved your a$$, probably more than once, she’s probably saved your event, or your DJs, or your sanity or maybe your wallet. Few people in this industry yield the level of respect across every category that Patti does and not much happens in our industry without her knowledge or involvement. She’s always there to help, usually with little fanfare and never gets enough credit for all she does.
Over the past two decades, I’ve produced many amazing parties and worked with many talented individuals. But this year, the members of our organization and the vendors we rely on to help us produce our events are hands down the best of the best. I’ve never been more proud and energized to keep pushing harder to continue producing events that showcase our great city, create unforgettable memories for our attendees, and make a difference in our community. I am grateful to have the best job in the world (even when it isn’t). Thank you
2025
Wow! Purple Party Weekend 2025 (PPW25) was absolutely stunning and flawless from start to finish. For the first time in a while, it really felt like “Purple”—a nonstop display of smiles, a sense of community, and an overwhelming feeling of love. That famous “purple magic” is back, and it’s better than ever. And we even got some shiny new toys to blow your mind.
The visuals, the performances, and those LASERS OMG 🤯🤯! Every DJ brought their A-game, and my incredible team, board members, volunteers, production teams, dancers, event staff, safety and special services, and everyone involved poured their hearts into this weekend and it showed. You could literally feel it! We even got the shuttles right (well, mostly 😅) I’m incredibly proud and relieved.
A big thank you to all the talented individuals who contributed to making this weekend a resounding success. PPW26 is going to be ELECTRIFYING ⚡️so get ready. The “save-the-date” and theme announcement are coming very soon.
#purpleodyssey #purplemagic
With the close of these storage unit doors marks the completion of my 20th Purple Party Weekend and it was undeniably the best. From a local party to one of the largest dance music festivals in the country what a wild and unexpected journey it has been…all while making a huge difference in our community and showcasing our great city to the world. But don’t worry, I’m not finished yet! Purple’s future looks brighter than ever, even with the massive challenges we face every year. So buckle up we’ve got big things to come!
2024
PPW24 was a relentless roller coaster with twists and turns and ups and downs I’m still recovering from whiplash over a week later. Moments that sent my anxiety and stress into overdrive was followed by moments of overwhelming joy that reaffirmed my faith in humanity and then back again as we zig zagged through every close-call, every near-catastrophe, and every joyous celebration. It was EXTRA everything that tested us all, but we did it. We did it as family (about as dysfunctional of a family as it gets but a family nonetheless).
Some major “THANK YOUs” are in order:
Thank you to my amazing board and committee members. You all shined brighter this year than you ever have. You pulled together when we were faced with challenges over and over again. Each and every one of you showed up and worked your butts off…you made me so proud and I was reminded why I chose each of you for my Purple Dream Team. You all showed the world why Purple is the best in the business. I am grateful to have the best job in the world and the opportunity to work with the most creative and dedicated group that I’m happy to call friends.
Thank you to Michael B, our talented graphic designer. You had the impossible job of continuing our marketing campaign after Pablo’s sudden and untimely passing. I had probably unrealistic expectations and I wasn’t always the most flexible about my vision but you did such an incredible job, I think Pablo would have approved.
Thank you to our hardworking event staff and devoted volunteers. You make this all possible, we simply could not do this without you. Thank you Eric Way at Way Events.
Thank you to our production partners and audio/visual teams: System Admin, Laseronics USA, Shag Carpet, ACT, and 3DX for making us look and sound so good even with challenges and setbacks around every corner.
To our talented DJs, thank you for bringing your A-game and being flexible and adapting when plans had to be changed at the very last minute. Special thanks to Alex Acosta and Rue-D Renteria for being flexible and patient. That night will go down as one of my most stressful nights in nearly twenty years of Purple and yall helped make it manageable.
Thank you to our stunning dancers and performers. You all turned it out event after event and made it look so easy. Thank you Brandon Michael for coming up with all of the dancer looks and then designing and producing nearly everything yourself. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next year.
Thank you to our generous sponsors, promotional partners, and vendors. Special thanks to Circuit MOM Productions (Circuit Mom Matthew Harvat and Circuit Son Edwin Martinez) for the fantastic support and promotions leading up to Purple Weekend and I promise we won’t wait another 20 years for another Circuit Mom appearance.
Thank you to our gracious venues:
Marriott Suites, Station 4, Gilley’s, and AT&T Performing Arts Center for giving us a safe space where we feel at home (even though some of our attendees feel a little too at home ). We aren’t perfect but we are always entertaining, right?
Thank you to our special services: medical, security, and Pegasus. Yall had one job to do: keep us safe, and you did it flawlessly. Purple Foundation - Dallas Purple Party is the only LGBTQ festival in the country with an in-house medical team and harm reduction program. Thank you Larry Davis for overseeing our special services department and taking it to a whole new level. You’ve laid the groundwork for us to have the safest events in the industry.
And THANK YOU to our attendees, you have supported this event year after year. You’ve turned this weekend in a global destination with an almost cult-like following. Every person that comes to Purple forms a deep connection that brings them back every year and I could not be more grateful for the support.
I want to highlight the real standouts that shined, the heroes that saved the day (or at least the moment), and the true stars of the weekend as far as I’m concerned.
My right hand man Scott Livingston and my left hand woman Sara Dallas. I’m simply in awe of your hard work and dedication to this organization.
Scott, you blew me away this year. You took control of your tasks and made everything work. I can’t imagine us surviving the challenges we faced without you and all the work you put into streamlining our operations. And you did it all remaining cool, calm, and collected. You’ve contributed so much to this organization and you’ve become a trusted friend along the way.
Sara, the world is quite aware of the love and adoration I have for you. You’ve saved the day (and my sanity) more times than I can remember and this year was no different. No you still can’t retire
And lastly, Tyler Moore, the true star of PPW24. You were there every time I needed you and no matter the challenge, you came through (with a little sass, of course). When things went to hell Saturday night into afterhours, it was your genius idea to move the crowd to S4, buying us precious time to finalize a gameplan. When we needed technical help, you were there. When we needed extra hands, you were there. When we needed anything at all, you were there. You even helped me pick our amazing DJ lineup, not an easy task and one I don’t give to just anyone. Oh and you produce the hugely popular PurpleCast podcast series for us every month. On top of allllll that, your talents in the booth impress me every time and as expected, you played a flawless opening set for our main event. You are unstoppable and we are grateful for you for sharing your talents with us. I can’t wait to see what else you can do!
I’m sure I completely forgot a very important group, I’m sorry and thank you
Save the date for PURPLE ODYSSEY: ULTRAVIOLET, May 1-5, 2025.
Blake Baker
