This ain’t our first rodeo, nor is it our first Big Gay Weekend in the middle of the haze of somewhere we might have been before but can’t remember (thanks, 1990s). As the big GayDayS celebration and all of its surrounding festivities hit the ground running for their 26th year of red shirts, we want to make certain that you, dear reader visiting from anywhere in the world, have a sense of place in all of the many splendored places. There’s nothing like being in the wrong place at the wrong time – mind, some of the best surprises happen there – but just to get your ducks, mice and bears in a row, we’ve compiled a partial list of potential adventures for you to choose depending on the color of your mood ring. You asked for a tour guide, right? No? Well you’re about to get one! Clearly, the whole region turns into a rainbow for this very long weekend, so if you throw a magical wand, you’re bound to find something to tickle your fancy.
Happy partying, stay safe and have a magical day or six.
Drag it up!
Say you’re a drag aficionado, down from Milwaukee, Wisc. – or maybe just MetroWest – who lives – LIVES! – to see as many performing cross-dressers as possible. By working the best catch phrases from each season of RuPaul’s Drag Race into every aspect of your day-to-day conversations, you’ve helped make the mainstream lexicon fabulous. It’s only fitting that you pay homage to the gals who’ve given your life meaning whenever and wherever you can. You’re here for a gender-bender bender.
Thankfully for you, it’s nearly impossible to attend any Big Gay Weekend event that isn’t hosted, fronted, or L. Ron Hubbard-ed by a drag queen. Hell, what’s probably the most sex-specific event – GayDayS’ Porn Bingo on Saturday evening, advertised as containing “theatrical nudity” from a trio of gay-male adult film stars – is hosted by none other than drag legend Chi Chi LaRue. (For the drag-allergic, we recommend hanging with the Girls in Wonderland and Tidal Wave Weekend bear groups, whose calendar of events appear to be drag-free.)
The weekend offers numerous opportunities to see numerous Drag Race alumni since Orlando is home to several of the show’s most notorious characters. You’re drag-savvy to know that this weekend’s undiscovered second-tier performer could very well be the next headliner in RuPaul’s band of lip-sticked dancing monkeys.
By our count, there are at least 50 drag queens on display this week, so be forewarned that this kind of amazing drag race literally requires a full tank of gas.
Your quest starts Tuesday at the Gay Days Kick-Off Party at Artegon Marketplace with none other than former Orlandoan and Drag Race contestant Coco Montrese. From there it’s downtown to Hamburger Mary’s for your first of what will be many, many games of Drag Bingo. Tonight’s edition is hosted by the hilarious Miss Sammy & Carol Lee, with one of the week’s only opportunities to catch a drag performer sing live, as opposed to lip-syncing.
Wednesday offers your next round of Drag Bingo, this time at the Parliament House with former Miss Continental Elite Chantel Reshae. Stick around for a special Disney-themed edition of Gidget Galore‘s Wound Up Wednesday variety show and audience games, also with Tasha Royale Sherrington. Wrap up the night with Angelica Sanchez, MRMS Adrien and Kai’ja Adonis at Pulse’s Dorm Wednesdays show.
Thursday takes you back to the Parliament House for Gidget Galore‘s Big Gay Game Show and Happy Hour and the resort’s annual Pleasure Island-themed/Latin night mash-up with Lisa Lane and Shantell D’Marco. Then another college-themed night, this one at Southern Nights, with RuPaul alum Roxxxy Andrews, Axel Andrews, Karl Kaija-Adonis Winslow and Nazhoni. Then try Theme Thursdays at the Revere at the M Hotel with Angelica Sanchez, Kirk Davinci Dior and Tashae Royale Sherrington.
With this many queens around there’s got to be a title and a tiara up for grabs somewhere. Friday finds pageant hopefuls compete for the title of Miss Gay Days, emceed by Coco Montrese and Chi Chi LaRue. Zip to Hamburger Mary’s for Facebook Fridays starring The Minxx, Aysia Black and Nicky Monet while crying a tear that RuPaul’s current tour has local gal Ginger Minj in the Midwest all weekend long. Then it’s a high-speed pub crawl between Funky Monkey (Danielle Hunter, Chantell Reshae, and Susan B. Whitney), Revere at The M Hotel (Divine Intervntion with Sassy Devine and Tia Devine), the Parliament House (Footlight Players Darcel Stevens, Shantell D’Marco, Jazell Barbie Royale and Drag Race grad Sonique), Southern Nights (Roxxxy Andrews, Maya Andrews, Tasha Long and Chevelle Brooks), and Pulse (Angelica Sanchez and guests). Wrap up with One Mighty Weekend’s Cadabra After Hours with Saphyre.
Fuel up, because Saturday takes your tour into overdrive. There’s the local weekly line-up with Hamburger Mary’s Illusions Celebrity Impersonation Showcase (starring Leigh Shannon, Crystal Chambers and Paige King), Funky Monkey’s Divas Las Vegas (with Danielle Hunter, Chantell Reshae, Susan B. Whitney and Aysia Black), Revere at The M Hotel’s Saturdaze (with Kirk Davinci Dior, Imani Valentino, Felicity Ferrero, Faytriana Evans, Beonka Evans Dior and Allekxa D. Evans Dior), Southern Nights’ Girl: The Party (with Maya Andrews, Tasha Long, and Roxxxy Andrews), Pulse’s Platinum (with Angelica Sanchez, Mimi Marks, Jahbell Meezan and Shynice Sanchez), Parliament House’s Footlight Players (Darcel Stevens, Shantell D’Marco, Jazell Barbie Royale and Sonique), and Stonewall’s Starlettes featuring Chrsanthemum.
Since it’s a special weekend there’s even more drag to be found, including Ru Paul Season One fave Nina Flowers DJing at One Magical Weekend’s Main Event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Chi Chi LaRue playing porn bingo before taking the DJ decks at GayDayS’ Glow Job Main Pool Party, and TP Lords taking the stage at the OMW Cadabra After Hours.
Halleloo! Sunday means Brunch and Hamburger Mary’s has been voted one of the nation’s best, thanks to the Broadway Brunch Bunch starring the Minxx and Nicky Monet, with Angel Sheridan. Get in a last game of Drag Bingo with Miss Gay Days royalty Imani Valentino and Harmony Breeze at the GayDayS host hotel. Close out the weekend at Parliament House’s Tea Dance with the Footlight Players, get recharged with Power Infinity at OMW’s Deep party at EPCOT, before wrapping up this year’s tour with Phoenix at the Cadabra After Hours and a well-earned wave of the bedazzled checkered flag.
Because sometimes the sound of music doesn’t come from a DJ’s laptop
Maybe you’re a coffee barista in from New Orleans – or possibly St. Pete’s 600 Block – who appreciates live music wherever you can find it. And maybe that’s because your last significant relationship was with a cute guitarist you met at work; even though it didn’t work out, you’ll never forget your ex’s sense of…rhythm. And since Coachella was a bit out of your budget – and frankly, just not gay enough – a music festival trip to Orlando in June seems like a great way to kick off summer.
Your tour starts at Tuesday’s GayDayS Kick-Off Party at Artegon Marketplace; you’ll feel right at home with the mall’s hipster/homespun/craft-everything vibe. The performance from the Orlando Gay Chorus makes a perfect opening act to the main headliners yet to come; the show also makes you shed a small tear in remembrance of Glee. Afterwards, head to the Parliament House for a performance by R&B singer Chante Moore, there for the resort’s biggest hip-hop party of the year.
Wednesday takes you to Pulse for a concert by dance-pop artist Neon Hitch, who’ll feel right at home in Central Florida this week since she was raised in a family of circus performers.
You’ll set up camp at the Parliament House for the most part of the remainder of your trip. Its entertainment line-up includes sets by Erika Jayne on Friday, Deborah Cox on Saturday, and the double bill of Estelle and Betty Who on Sunday. (Cox should be the big draw here, fresh off a lead performance in the Sarasota world premiere of a musical based on the life of Josephine Baker, and just prior to starring in a national tour of the musical theater adaptation of “The Bodyguard.”)
In between, though, there’s a quick trip to One Magical Weekend’s Saturday Main Event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to catch club diva Beth Sacks open for headline maker Kesha (she dropped the “$”). The performance is an expected follow-up to a recently announced “statement performance” at the Billboard Music Awards about her drama with producer Dr. Luke. Assuming that all goes down, her WDW gig should provide plenty of souvenir stories to share afterwards.
Laughter makes the best medicine
Screw gay marriage! You’re a recently divorced mid-level manager from Cedar Rapids, Iowa – or perhaps Ormond Beach – who needs a getaway from dividing up the stacks of Now That’s What I Call Music CDs and finalizing visitation rights to the local gay bars. Frankly, you need a good laugh, and this weekend is the place to get it.
Your “Screw you, Chris” tour starts at Wednesday’s Pink Collar Comedy Show at the Orlando Improv Comedy Club. Jeff Jones and Trixie Deluxxe will have you in stitches, and Carol Lee will make you realize that, despite your break-up, there are indeed people out there more bitter than you.
Friday night with Miss Coco Peru at the Parliament House should be the perfect cure for what ails you: her seminar/show, “A Gentle Reminder: Coco’s Guide To A Somewhat Happy Life” will provide step-by-step instructions on easing you back into singledom with at least a halfway decent attitude. (And if one lesson isn’t enough, you can get a refresher course again on Saturday.)
On Saturday you’ll relate to Suzanne Wesenhoefer and her non-scripted, pull-no-punches take on life; catch her at Girls in Wonderland host hotel, the Sheraton LBV Resort. From there, head to the Parliament House for a rare live uncensored trip to Sandyland with Sandra Bernhard.
Close out your comeback comedy tour on Sunday with the snarky wit of Last Comic Standing finalist Brad Loekle at the Parliament House. Hopefully by night’s end, after a five-show laugh-fest, you’ll be ready to take a fresh look at separating out the collection of collectible snowglobes…or perhaps shatter them against the walls of your own chuckle-hut. It’s all good.
And now for something different
You’re a Fort Lauderdale-based travelling product rep for the latest HIV treatment option who’s been to Orlando’s Big Gay Weekend more times than you can recall – or perhaps a returning WDW college program cast member who still doesn’t have enough tenure to take off the first weekend of June. In either case, your been-there-done-that attitude about the event is about to get blown up, thanks to taking the “And Now for Something Different” tour throughout the week.
You’ve heard him on the radio and seen him at Fringe, but until you’ve played games with local celeb Doug Ba’aser hosting, you haven’t really gotten to know Ba’aser at all. Lucky you! You’ll have three opportunities this week: Trivia Tuesday Happy Hour at the Parliament House, Trivia Wednesday evening at Hamburger Mary’s, and Bingo Saturday afternoon at Stonewall.
When was the last time you hit up a feel-good puppet show, especially THIS weekend? Orlando’s Mad Cow Theatre opens its run of the raunchy, vulgar and just a little bit racist Avenue Q just in time for the 26th anniversary of Gay Day with shows Wednesday through Saturday nights, plus a Sunday matinee.
You’ve likely not previously attended Thursday’s annual Taste of GayDayS event at their host hotel. While it always features samples of local beers, wines, spirits and hors d’oeuvres, this year the evening features an appearance by Food Network’s Retro Rad Chef Emily Ellyn! Ariel Cirque-style acts will be part of the entertainment, as will a swimwear fashion show, because there’s nothing better than noshing out on deep-fried cream cheese puff pastries and brown-sugar-glazed mini-cupcakes while watching tan-and-toned nearly-naked models strut up and down a runway.
When you’re ready for a full-on meal, check out the just-opened Restaurant ASH by Hell’s Kitchen survivor Chef Ashley Nickell.
Ever play bingo with a legendary drag queen and a couple of porn stars? We thought not, so here’s your chance Saturday evening at the GayDayS host hotel with Chi Chi La Rue, Wesley Woods, JJ Knight and Rocco Steele. And in case you’re not sure just who does drag and who does porn, well, you’re likely not a fan of either, so….on to the next!
By its nature The Rocky Horror Picture Show has always been pretty gay, and the very least, incredibly campy. Moreso when you watch it with a shadow cast and a bag full of join-along audience participation props. In a Big Gay Weekend first you can do the Time Warp on Saturday at the GayDayS host hotel.
And while the world’s oldest international soccer tournament isn’t necessarily gay, the thrill of viewing its swarthy sweaty athletes compete can be. Turn up the heat when Copa America Centenario holds one of its three group stage games – this one between Costa Rica and Paraguay – at the newly-monikered Camping World Stadium (formerly known as the Citrus Bowl) on Saturday evening.
One last way to celebrate? Stay home and watch the local media cover the entire weekend – and its multi-million dollar impact on the local economy – in a brief 60-second report during the evening news.
Where the wild things are
You’re a full-time assembly-line foreman/part-time volunteer fireman in from Dayton, Ohio – or maybe a media relations coordinator from Tampa – who’s recently decided to embrace his place in the LGBT community. Beefy, chunky, stocky, testosteroned – however you or anyone wants to call it, you’re a bear and hoping to hang with any related members of the species.
Your bear quest starts Tuesday at Parliament House’s appropriately named Bear Den for Bearaoke, hosted by Cubby KJ Pat and Bears in the City. On Wednesday head to Stonewall’s SkyBar, a unique open-air bar that overlooks the downtown skyline, as well as the ongoing construction of Orlando’s new professional soccer stadium next door. Besides ogling the hunky construction workers, you can take part in Taylor’s Fun House Happy Hour, sponsored by the Orlando City Bear Club and hosted by DJ Cap’n Kirk. It’s a mix of games tonight, including Trivia, Single Parent Family Feud, and some Disney-flavored Heads-Up for sure.
Throughout the weekend there are lots and lots of bear-friendly pool parties to be found at both the GayDayS and Tidal Wave host hotels. The biggest of them all will be Thursday’s Tidal Wave kickoff when the OCBC and DJ Cap’n Kirk bring their unique brand of fun and games to the LBV Holiday Inn.
On Friday, head to the last-ever Tidal Wave party at Wet ‘n’ Wild, as that water park closes later this year to make room for a new volcano-themed water park at Universal. Now in its 10th year, the party traditionally sees 1000 bears, cubs, otters, gorillas, wolves, silver foxes, giraffes and more in attendance (oh my!). And – jeez, this guy gets around – music is provided by none other than DJ Cap’n Kirk, Orlando’s Gay-List bear.
If you still need soaking, head to Riptide at Typhoon Lagoon, where organizers have promised a separate Bear Lagoon area/containment zone/mix-and-mingle section for you and your fellow critters.
On Saturday at the Magic Kingdom, make sure you don’t miss the annual bear migration that takes place at the Country Bear Jamboree, typically after noon, where homo sapien bears gather to watch those of Species Audio-Animatronic.
Where my ladies at
You’re a fun-loving line cook down from Saugatuck, Mich. – or maybe just in from the coast – wondering where the ladies at! You’ve been here before and usually divided your time between Girls at GayDays events and Girls in Wonderland activities. Alas, the former has apparently thrown in the towel, so your journey begins by checking in to the Sheraton LBV, the Girls in Wonderland host hotel, and going anywhere and everywhere they tell you to go. You WILL listen!
Some things you might not want to miss include The Cheaters live at the Abbey in Downtown Orlando on Friday at the Abbey, because those girls draw all the hottest lesbians and the grooviest grinds. Ruby Rose from Orange is the New Black (among other international media vehicles) will be paying a visit to Tier Nightclub downtown on June 3 (don’t wear stripes!). Also, on Friday and Saturday, you’ll find an all-female paint-drop dancing extravaganza from the ladies of DRIP at the Color Bar on I-Drive; there will be an all-female love triangle and plenty of skin. DJ Freshmat follows up the event with an after party, so, hey, don’t be a drip. Make your own splash zone, ladies.
You must be logged in to post a comment.