Black-tie? Try no-tie—or better yet, no shirt at all. Formal events are a dime a dozen in D.C., and it’s not uncommon to see a hotel lobby overflowing with attendees in suits and gowns. But once a year, the Hyatt Regency plays host to an entirely different type of event—one featuring leather jackets, harnesses, and a ceremonial cock ring to kick off the festivities.

It’s the Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend, the Centaur Motorcycle Club’s annual celebration of leather culture. Official events over the course of the three-day blowout (usually held in January, on the weekend when Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls) include the Exhibit Hall, featuring some of the nation’s premiere adult vendors; a Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather competition; and the notorious leather cocktail party. Unofficial parties can be found at clubs across the District all weekend. Besides a loyal following of locals, the weekend also attracts leatherfolk from all over the world.