The first Leather Event of the new year in the US is the annual Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend (MAL) in Washington DC on January 13-16, 2023.   (it’s also MLK weekend which is totally unrelated!)

It all started back in 1976 when Glenn Pitcher of the Links Motorcycle Club (MC) in New York took a suite at the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in that city, and in a grand gesture to visiting friends from the west coast, threw an intimate cocktail party. Guests all arrived in full leather.

Nowadays its a three day long party and event with participants that now number in the thousands. The heart of the weekend is the historic leather formal Saturday evening cocktail social, Leather Cocktails. which is the lynchpin gathering from which all other weekend events evolved. The Weekend also includes official events organized by weekend hosts, Centaur MC, In addition to the Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather Contest, there are numerous scheduled events and activities, including the Mr. International Rubber Cocktail Party, the Onyx Show, Parade of Colors, and Parade of Titleholders from around the US and world. For the curious who just want to pick up a few items to feed their kinks or fetishes, you can head to the Leather Market or Exhibit Hall which includes more than 25 vendors selling everything from customized leather harnesses to sex toys. 

Weekend participants can purchase a full weekend package that includes access to all events. Tickets to a few select events are sold separately. 

Attendees can download the MAL Weekend Yapp App to stay on top of all the events, and parties, a list of exhibit hall vendors, and more