Night of the Living Drag - and other Spooktacular Events this October 2023
Many in the LGBTQ community regard Halloween as "gay Christmas," and here’s why.
The story dates back to the mid-20th century when queer individuals in Philadelphia would dress in drag and party during Halloween, referring to it as "bitches Christmas." The holiday offered a unique opportunity to transcend societal boundaries, especially during times when cross-dressing was criminalized in many parts of North America. This freedom made Halloween a safe haven for expressing gender and sexuality. Following the 1969 Stonewall riots, formal queer Halloween events emerged in prominent gayborhoods across the US and Canada.
Today, Halloween remains an essential celebration for the LGBTQ community. I know it is my favourite time of year - and maybe it’s yours! So here’s a big list of Halloween events, markets, and shows and we will be adding to it as Halloween nears. Send your events to whatsonqueerbc@gmail.com
OCTOBER 20
Queer Halloween Pumpkin Carving
Oct 20 6:00 - 10:00 pm
Bimini's Pub & Lounge - 2010 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
Calling all artists, dreamers, visionaries and thinkers 😂... use your skills or develop some at our pumpkin carving contest in two rounds.. Round 1 on October 24th and Round 2 on October 28th.. from 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM 😈 What do you need to do, you ask? Show up... be prepared for some fun battles & laughter challenges.. the pumpkin is on us.. 🎃
OCTOBER 21
Mischief Managed
October 21st from 7pm-9pm
THE BIRDHOUSE by Eastside Studios - 44 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
Queer Harry Potter fans come rejoice at The Birdhouse! This show is made up of exclusively trans and non-binary drag performers and part of each ticket sold goes directly to a local queer and trans centre. Tickets and Info here
LIPS Sapphic Halloween
Sat, Oct 21, 2023 9:00 PM - Sun, Oct 22, 2023 3:00 AM
The Pearl - 881 Granville St Vancouver, BC V6Z 1L1
You're invited to LIPS Sapphic Monster Mash Bash! Get your costumes ready for a night of Halloween fun! EventBrite Page
Glamoween: An Undead Dance Party
Oct 21, 2023 10 pm - 2 am
The Birdhouse - 44 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
Get ready for a 'fang'-tastic night of dancing and performances!
Showpass Page
OCTOBER 22
Drag Attack - Scream Queens
Oct 22 Doors 7:15 pm | Show 8:00 pm
Rio Theatre 1660 East Broadway
Join tiktok star Dandy as he hosts a glamorous gaggle of ghouls and gals serving their best creepy chic. As Dandy always says, "if you got it, haunt it!" Come see these frighteningly fabulous beauties before they slash-slay away.
Night Of The Living Drag Halloween Drag Show
Sun, Oct 22, 2023 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Townhall Langley - 19640 64 Avenue Langley, BC V2Y 1R3
Join Carrie Dawn for a frightfully fun evening of spook-tacular scares at this Halloween themed Drag show featuring special guest performers
OCTOBER 26
Shake your Groove Fang Fundraiser
Oct 26 7:00 - 9:00 pm
#425-268 Keefer St,(4th floor in the Sun Wah Building),Vancouver,
Come shake your groove fang with the Queer Arts fam! Halloween fundraiser party complete with drinks, music, dancing and even a costume contest.
OCTOBER 27
Death Becomes Her - Halloween Fundraiser Screening
October 27 - Doors 6:30 PM Show starts 7 PM
Historic Theatre, The Cultch - 1895 Venables St.
Watch Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn club each other with shovels while serving high femme glamour in this absurd and campy cult classic. And it wouldn't be a Death Becomes Her screening without some drag featuring Batty Banks, Tiffany Ann Co, Bib Soulphresh. Tickets are *free* with a suggested amount of $30 per person! All donations will support the @outinschools program, the only program of its kind delivering life-affirming 2SLGBTQIA+ education to 9,000 youth per year across BC. Info and Tickets her
Let Us Haunt You: ROOM Magazine’s Halloween Open Mic
Oct 27, 2023 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Neworld Theatre, Progress Lab 1422 William St Vancouver, BC
Join us for a haunting evening of poetry & prose featuring an open mic, readings from Room's GHOSTS issue, costume contest, & mini market. Eventbrite Page Info and Tix
Drag Show XXX Friday Halloween Drag COmpetition Final Girl Pt 3
October 27 · 10pm - 1am
Numbers Cabaret - 1042 Davie Street Vancouver
Come see Vancouvers favourite drag show at numbers cabaret for Halloween! Eventbrite Page
Scream Queens Halloween Drag Show!
Fri, Oct 27, 2023 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Livelyhood - 3224 Saint Johns Street Port Moody
Join your Ghost Host Carrie Dawn for a night of spook-tacular excitement and fun at the "Scream Queens Halloween Drag Show" at Livelyhood! EventBrite Page
RHYTHM of THE NiGHT ~ Halloween
Oct 27, 2023 9 pm - 3 am
The Birdhouse - 44 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
An extra spooky nite of non-stop nostalgia. Queer 4 queer warehouse dance party. A tribute to the 90s club kid culture. Tickets and info here
OCTOBER 28
Halloween Drag Brunch at Biminis
Saturday, October 28 · 12 - 3pm
Bimini's Neighbourhood Pub - 2010 West 4th Avenue Vancouver, BC V6J 1M9
Come see kitsilanos favourite Drag Brunch at BIMINIS this Halloween. Eventbrite Page
That's gay! comedy presents: TWINK or TREAT
Saturday, October 28 at 7:00pm
KW Production Studio #10 – 111 Hastings St W Vancouver
Your favourite 7-time sold out comedy show is back for more. Join That's gay! comedy for TWINK or TREAT, a queer Halloween comedy show, featuring Vancouver's funniest twink and treat improv and stand-up comedians!
Bingo & Boo!
Fundraiser for a Rainbow Refugee Circle, Rainbow Bridge
Sat, Oct 28, 2023 7:00 PM PDT
Russian Hall - 600 Campbell Avenue Vancouver, BC V6A 3K1
Join us for a spooktacular night of Bingo, Halloween & Drag King fun. We'll be serving food, drinks and thrilling bingo games and prizes. Eventbrite Page
Nightmare on 4th Ave // Man Up Halloween
Oct 28. 9pm - 2am.
The Birdhouse - 44 W 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1G3, Canada
Join us for a most harrowing hoot that your twisted mind could never conjure, as the drag beasts rise from the dead, to claim YOU! Tickets on Showpass here
Dawn of the Drag Halloween Drag Show
Sat, Oct 28, 2023 7:00 PM - 10:00 PDT
Samz Neighbourhood Pub - 2342 Elgin Avenue Port Coquitlam
Join your host Carrie Dawn for a night of horror-ific excitement and fun at the Dawn of the Drag Halloween Drag Show Eventbrite Page
Parade of Lost Souls 2023. Everything! Everywhere! All at Parade!
Sat October 28 6:30 pm
Starts at 1661 Napier St, Vancouver
Let’s all jump on the Quantum Bandwagon! It may be impossible to know if there are really multiple universes when we look outward into the sky, but we know for sure that the multiverse is alive and well when we look inward, Because ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN in our imaginations!!! JOIN US for this annual event as Britannia partners with the Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret to bring you this years’ spooktacular & legendary Parade of Lost Souls!
Facebook Event Page
Parade of Lost Souls 2023 Afterparty!
October 28 9:30 pm — 12 am.
Wise Hall - 1882 Adanac Street Vancouver
Have you ever wondered what happens when imagination knows no bounds? Join us at the enchanting Wise Hall for an interdimensional celebration like no other! Facebook Event Page
Midnight at the Museum - Chilliwack
October 28th, 2023
Chilliwack Museum - 45820 Spadina Avenue in downtown Chilliwack!
Featuring drag performances by Kids in the Ball, costume contest, photo booth, appies, and spirits. 19+ Tickets here
HOTLINE ☏ CLUB BLOOD
October 28, 10:00PM
feat. Dr BPM, DJ Hockey, Kasey Riot & Steph Tsunami
OCTOBER 29
PLUR Halloween 2023
Sunday, Oct 29. 9:00 pm - 3:00 am.
The Penthouse Nightclub
After all the Halloween events throughout the weekend, finish your weekend off just right at PLUR Halloween! Join us Sunday night for the biggest costumed Halloween party in Vancouver. Tickets and info here
AND AT THE CLUBS!
