Although Pride Month celebrations have long since ceased in most Canadian cities, Calgary's Pride festivities are just getting underway, and what better way to toast to a terrific cause than with an assortment of delicious brunch fare and a mimosa (or two)?
From a pair of lively events at The Palace Theatre to a fun night of queer trivia at The Prairie Emporium, to the long-awaited return of Sashay, Fillet! featuring four fabulous chef-drag duos competing for the crown at The Rooftop YYC, here are eight drag events to check out during Calgary Pride.
Sashay, Fillet! (Aug. 25) - The Rooftop YYC
The worlds of drag and food have always been intrinsically connected, but few drag events combine the two together in a more deliciously exciting way than Sashay, Fillet!
Hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Yuhua Hamasaki, the fun-filled RPDR-meets-Chopped competition will see four incredible chefs paired up with four fabulous drag performers at The Rooftop YYC for a series of highly entertaining drag performances and tasty drag-inspired eats and drinks—all while enjoying the musical stylings of award-winning pop-country act Amy Hef and raising funds for Skipping Stone Foundation.
Tickets to Sashay, Fillet! are priced between $38 and $59.
Indigi-Hauz Takeover (Aug. 26) - Hawthorn Dining Room
2-Spirit performers Indigi-Hauz is coming to Calgary for the first time ever for an incredible evening of Indigenous drag excellence featuring Just Glue, Etherea, Desiré Devine, Ladonna Cree and Cedar T, along with special guest Lola Chokecherry of Treaty 7.
The Indigi-Hauz collective is known for infusing traditional Indigenous performance art into their shows, so you can expect a fun night filled with unique and exciting experiences.
Tickets range from $20 to per person to $400 for VIP tables.
Honey Davenport and Landon Cider (Aug. 27 & Sept. 1) - Twisted Element
As you may have come to expect from Calgary’s premier 2SLGBTQ+ venue, Twisted Element is putting on a slew of fun Pride events over the next couple of weeks, but there are two in particular that we’re most excited about.
The first is a Drag Rave with Honey Davenport—who will also be serving as a special guest DJ for a post-Rave dance party—on August 27. The second is an exciting event in partnership with Fake Mustache on September 1 featuring performances by Landon Cider and the Fake Mustache Drag Troupe, followed by a queer-fem Bitch Pack Party with special guest DJs Molly Fi and Iva.
Tickets to the first event on August 27 range from $15 to $25, while tickets to the second event are priced between $15 and $40. Twisted Element is also offering a Pride Diva Pass, which provides front-of-the-line access to every pride event hosted by Twisted Element during Calgary Pride festival.
Rain of Stars (Aug. 28) - Mikey's On 12th
Mikey’s On 12th is known for serving up some of the city’s best Mexican food and beverage, but on August 27 and 28, the popular bar and events space will also be providing guests with an authentic Mexican drag experience as well.
Following an amazing night of Pride packed with celebrations and celebrity impersonations, Rain of Stars will culminate on August 28 with a drag brunch featuring Katherine Spears, Denisse Valenzuela, and Packo Sanz.
Tickets are priced between $20 and $40.
Queer Trivia Brunch (Aug. 28) - The Prairie Emporium
Known for puting on some of the liveliest drag brunches in Calgary, The Prairie Emporium will once again be transforming into a special events space where local queer media personality Ryan Massel and Edmonton’s iconic drag queen Ivy League will host a Queer Trivia Brunch.
In addition to a wealth of historical queer knowledge, Queer Trivia Brunch guests can also expect plenty of fun brunch cocktails courtesy of Eau Claire Distillery, tasty breakfast sandwiches, some exclusive Mr. Fabulous LOVED merch, and more.
Tickets are priced at $10 per person with partial proceeds being donated to End Of The Rainbow Foundation.
WERK IGNITE (Sept. 2) - The Palace Theatre
Billed as WERK’s biggest Pride event to date, this year’s WERK IGNITE will be hosted by Canada’s Drag Race alum Kendall Gender and will feature special guests Rêve and Raja, along with performances by an all-star lineup that includes Stephanie Prince, Kaos, Nearah Nuff, Addi Pose, and Dayna Hart.
General admission starts at $40 per person and VIP tickets range from $60 to $120, but if you really want to go all out, The Palace Theatre is also offering a 20-person Platinum Sky Suite package complete with upper balcony seating, a private bar, and a meet and greet with the event’s headliners for the modest price of $3,000.
Pure Pride (Sept. 3) - The Palace Theatre
Calgary's Pride week wouldn’t be the same without one of the province’s longest-running Pride-themed events, Pure Pride at The Palace Theatre. The 17th annual iteration of Pure Pride will be hosted by Ru Paul’s Drag Race star Brooke Lynn Hytes and will feature performances by local queens like Argintina, Lilith Fair, and Whipped Cream.
Tickets are priced between $40 and $80, but The Palace is also currently offering a special two-for-one Party Pack ticket.
WERK Pride Drag Brunch (Sept. 3) - National on 8th
If you’ve ever wondered how to take an afternoon of drag performances and delicious brunch fare to the next level, WERK usually has the answer. On September 3, the WERK events team will be taking over the National on 8th rooftop for a day of drag debauchery featuring scenic views, classic brunch cocktails, and performances by Calgary-based queens like Stephanie Prince, Valerie Hunt, and Abeira Miraj, and Vancouver queens like Kendall Gender, Beth, Xanax, and many more.
General admission to the WERK Pride Drag Brunch is priced at $30 per person, while VIP bottle service and suites for larger groups range from $1,500 to $3,200.
