Arts & Entertainment

Halloween fun!

Our guide to the best parties, screenings and theme nights in town this weekend

Published

15 years ago

October 27, 2011

Joey DiGuglielmo

Halloween mayhem last year at Cobalt. (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

TODAY:

Secrets (1824 Half Street) is having a Halloween Black Light Party tonight hosted by La Troya Nichole with music by DJ Steve Henderson. Doors open at 9 p.m.

Strathmore presents “Friday night Eclectic: Rock, Paper, Zombies” tonight at the Mansion (10701 Rockville Pike) in Bethesda at 8:30 p.m. with music by Mittenfields, Devin Ocampo and Bellflur. There will be a showing of art including gig posters by Rich Bernett, Itty Bitty Press, John Foster and Fire Studio. Tickets are $10 in advance at strathmore.org and $12 at the door. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Beat City at Chief Ike’s Mambo Room (1725 Columbia Rd., N.W.) is Halloween themed this time around with the “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah” featuring a costume contest at midnight with winners received a $50 bar tab. Beat City is a queer lounge night featuring real rock ‘n’ roll from Alice in Chains to ZZ Top.

AFI Silver (8633 Colesville Rd.) in Silver Spring presents two silent horror classics tonight accompanied by the Alloy Orchestra. First up is “The Phantom of the Opera” starring Lon Chaney as the Phantom and Mary Philbin at Christine at 7 p.m. Then at 9:30 p.m.,“Nosferatu, A Symphony of Horror” starring Max Schreck as Count Orlok. Tickets for either screening are $20, $18 for AFI Members.

D.C.’s Rocky Horror Shadowcast, the Sonic Transducers, will be giving three special performances of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” starting tonight and going through Sunday. Tonight and Saturday the performances begins at midnight and Sunday they start at 7 p.m. sharp. All performances will be at the E Street Cinema (555 11th St., N.W.) and tickets are $11 for general admission, $9 for students and military and $8 for seniors. For more information, visit dcrockyhorror.com.

Saturday, Oct. 29

RAW’s Halloween Party is tonight at Cobalt (1639 R St., N.W.) with DJs Shea Van Horn and Bil plus guest DJ Keenan Orr from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. There’s a costume contest with $1,000 in prizes available. There will also be an open vodka bar from 10 to 11 p.m. There is a $10 cover. Attendees must be 21 or older.

“Thriller: Women’s Hallow Party” is tonight at Phase 1 (525 8th St., S.E.) with a costume contest and DJ LS spinning. Doors open at 9 p.m. and the contest begins at midnight. There’s a $10 cover and all attendees must be 21 or older.

Remington’s (639 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.) is having a Halloween party and costume contest tonight. Prizes include $250 case and a $100 bar tab. The contest begins at midnight and all participants should be signed up by 11:45 p.m.

Lace Lounge (2214 Rhode Island Ave., N.E.) presents “If Only for a Night: A Mature Costume Party” tonight from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. featuring a sexy, mature mini show. Cover is $10 with costume, $12 without one.

Town (2009 8th St., N.W.) presents GhostTown tonight featuring a costume contest at midnight with a grand prize of $1,000. The drag show begins at 10:30 p.m. Cover is $15 and all attendees must be 21 or older.

S.H.E. Productions presents Homoween 2011, the annual Saints and Sinners Masqueradde at Grand Central and Sapphos (1001 North Charles St.) in Baltimore. Doors open at 9 p.m. There is a $5 cover before 11 p.m. which doubles afterward. All attendees must be 21 or older.

Artomatic’s SurrealD.C. Halloween Masquerade is back for a third year at the Washington Harbour (3050 K St., N.W.) tonight from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. There will be a costume contest, including scariest, craziest, funniest, sexiest, most original and most creative, performances and art installations. Tickets are $25 and attendees must be 21 or older. For more information, visit artomatic.org.

Sunday, Oct. 30

Fairfax Pride is having a Halloween party tonight at Alto Plaza (5800 Old Centreville Rd.) in Centreville, featuring a Latin Zumba group, Brandonna Dupri, the Virginia chapter of the D.C. Gurly Show and more. Doors open at 7 p.m. and performances will happen every 30 minutes from 9 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $10. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the group page on Facebook.

Monday, Oct. 31

Nellie’s (900 U St., N.W.) is having its Halloween costume contest tonight from 8 p.m. to midnight. The first place winner will received $250 cash, second place winner will get a $100 Nellie’s tab and third place will win a $50 Cubano’s dinner.

Photos

PHOTOS: Fairfax City Pride

LGBTQ celebration held at Sherwood Center

Published

2 days ago

June 9, 2026

Michael Key

A scene from Fairfax City Pride on June 6. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Fairfax City Pride was held at the Sherwood Center (3740 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax, Va.) on Saturday, June 6.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

a&e features

D.C. prepares to party as Pride celebrations kick off Saturday

Bars, clubs have busy lineups; Pride on the Pier returns

Published

2 days ago

June 9, 2026

Evan Caplan

The Washington Blade’s Pride on the Pier returns June 13. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Capital Pride’s date change isn’t slowing down the festivities. Back in December, the Capital Pride Alliance shifted the calendar for Pride celebrations in the nation’s capital from the second weekend of June to two weeks later to the weekend of June 20-21 to not conflict with President Trump’s birthday and 250th anniversary of America celebrations, with the aim that “our community can gather safely and without unnecessary barriers… We are protecting our space and preserving Pride as a powerful act of visibility, solidarity, and resistance.”

On the heels of WorldPride last year, the city shows no sign of slowing down. Instead, restaurants, bars, clubs, and neighborhoods are taking the opportunity to be even more visible. The Blade has put together a (non-comprehensive) list of parties, activations, and activities across town:

Pride on the Pier returns on Saturday, June 13 to the Wharf on the Southwest waterfront. The event, sponsored and hosted by the Washington Blade, is free and runs from 4-9 p.m. There will be vendors, DJs, and drag performances all day. VIP tickets are $25 and come with air conditioned party room, private bathrooms, and free cocktail. More details at prideonthepierdc.com.

Capital Pride Official Opening Party: RIOT! is the official opening dance party of Capital Pride, taking place Friday June 19, 9 PM-3AM. The 2026 edition headlining performer is Myki Meeks, a finalist of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 18; Bob The Drag Queen will perform a special set. DMV-area DJs and performers include: Bambi, Baphomette, Bumper, Cake Pop!, Connor, DJ Ed Bailey, DJ Diyanna Monet, Evry Pleasure, Jakknife Complex, Mari Con Carne, Pussy Noir, WessTheDJ. Trade owner Ed Bailey is producing the event.

Kinetic Presents brings the heat across the entirety of Pride weekend as well. It again is partnering with Capital Pride Alliance to produce four events over four days this Pride, including the Official Main Event on Saturday (the Friday official event is at Echostage). Kinetic’s parties are splayed across various D.C. venues, with special performances, massive productions, shirtless dancers, play zones, dance-forward audio and visuals, and international DJ talent. Thursday, June 18 at 10 PM at District Eagle is Lust, with music by Dan Slater and TOMI. Friday, June 19 at 10 PM is UNCUT XXL Heavy Load, at A.i. Warehouse in Union Market District, with music by Alex Acosta, Felipe Lira & Mitch Ferrino; the party is a “high-octane night of muscular house and tribal rhythms.” Saturday, June 20 at 10 PM brings that official main event, Kinetic Toy Land, at Echostage, with music by GSP & Matt Suave. Alaska Thunderfuck headlines. Sunday evening June 21 at 10 PM closes with discoVERS at SAX. A portion of tickets supports the DC LGBTQ+ community through Capital Pride Alliance.

9:30 Club always comes in clutch for the LGBTQ community. Already in June, it produced Kitty Kat Ball on June 7, and Kiesza performed on June 8. On June 20 at 10 PM, the famed Mixtape party hits the stage, care of gay DJs Shea van Horn and Matt Bailer, who have spun together for coming up on two decades. Mixtape has been held at several venues across the city over those years, and now settled on 9:30 Club for Pride. On June 25 at 7 PM, Big Freedia – the bounce artist from New Orleans – hits the 9:30 Club scene for the eighth time, as part of the Big Freedom Tour.

Crush: New this year from the 14th Street bar is the Pride Pop-Up, sitting pretty in the parking lot at 1820 14th St., N.W., at the corner of Swann Street by the start of the Pride Parade route. Hours are Friday from 2-10 PM and Saturday from 12-10 PM. Friday evening features Grizzly Bear Happy Hour, a DJ will set up shop on Saturday, and for those needing another layer, there’s a Crush merch store. Co-owner Mark Rutstein “has always wanted to throw a party in that parking lot, so he did,” said co-owner Stephen Rutgers. Note that Crush (the bar) will have a cover on Friday and Saturday.

Kiki: Over at Kiki, there’s a full slate of Pride-themed programming all week. Tuesday, June 16 at 9 PM brings karaoke; Wednesday, June 17 at 7:30 PM is trivia; Thursday June 18 at 9PM is “Night of 1000 Tatianna’s Drag Show”, and Friday June 19 at 9 PM brings the Juneteenth Serve Drag Show. Saturday, June 20 at 10 PM, post-parade, is a Pride Dance Party with DJ Lemz. Sunday daytime at 5 PM is the Father Figures Daddy Issues Special Drag Show; and after the festival at 8 PM, DJ Tezrah hits the tapes.

Jane Jane: Right along the parade route, gay-owned Jane Jane has transformed its space into a “No Kings, Yas Queens” activation in a direct response to the America 250th commemorations happening downtown, from the colorful window installation, to merch (including a custom bandana and tank) to disco wig installations. Events include industry night on Mondays, donations to LGBTQ charities, and to-go cocktails during the Pride Parade.

Shaw’s Tavern: Gay-owned Shaw’s Tavern on Florida Avenue celebrates Pride week with a full lineup of themed events, entertainment, and specials, including Pride trivia on Monday, June 15 at 7:30 PM, bingo on Tuesday, June 16 at 8 PM, a cabaret on Thursday, June 18 at 9 PM, Juneteenth Drag Brunch on Friday, June 19 at 12:30 PM, and both a pre-parade brunch (10 AM-4 PM) and post-parade party (5-9 PM) on Saturday, June 20. Sunday, June 21 at 7 PM brings Mama’s Sunday Supper & Drag Pride Show in the evening for anyone who is still awake.

Trade: This classic has a weekend of events, starting on Thursday, with Tiburon Pride Edition, a Latin Dance party in the Shark Tank. On Friday, the bar opens early (at 2 PM), with all-day happy hour and the Jx&Evry Show. On Saturday, the bar opens at noon, offering a prime parade viewing spot from its windows. There will be the CLASH drag show hosted by Tatianna and Crimsyn, and Sweet Spot party that night. On Sunday, the bar opens for normal hours at 2 PM, with DJs Adam K, Alex Love, and WESSTHEDJ.

Pitchers: The multi-level bar in Adams Morgan is hosting a Pride-themed show on Thursday, June 18 at 10 PM, with drawstring bag giveaways – the only kind of bag that will be allowed into the bar during Pride weekend. The show features drag queen Kyle Sonique Love.

Barrel House Cafe and Bar: Also by the parade route on 14th Street, Barrel House Cafe takes advantage of its large patio to have a slate of events during Pride week, including Schism, a drag and burlesque show on June 18 at 10 PM, as well as an all-day Pride party coinciding on parade day.

Bunker: Bunker again plays host to a series of afters. Friday night (Saturday 3:30 AM) is Unhinged, and Saturday night (Sunday 3:30AM) is Unholy. The regular Saturday night party (10 PM) brings in Venetian and Tiara Missou. All parties have cover charges.

District Eagle: Beyond the Kinetic party on Friday, June 19 brings Gear Night at 10 PM; Saturday, June 20 at 10 PM is LOBO presents PRISM, and Sunday, June 21 is Sundaze wit Papi at 6 PM.

African Art Museum: On Thursday, June 18 at 5 PM, this Smithsonian museum is hosting a free event with artists and curators celebrating its exhibit, “Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art,” “based on years of close collaboration and dialogue with African visual art practitioners who claim belonging in the LGBTQ+ community, however they define those terms,” according to the museum.

KNEAD Hospitality & Design: The gay-owned KNEAD restaurant group (including spots like Gatsby, Mi Vida, Succotash The Grill) is featuring the GLITTERATI cocktail, made with Tito’s, St-Germain Elderflower, Butterfly Flower, ginger, and yes, glitter. A portion of proceeds from every Glitterati cocktail sold will benefit The Trevor Project. The cocktail will be sold throughout June.

The Fountain Inn is partnering with Rhodium spirits (Rhode Island’s first LGBTQ+ owned distillery) all month, making cocktails like gimlets and espresso martinis featuring Rhodium’s liquors. Proceeds benefit SMYAL, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQ+ youth.

Hard Rock Cafe: Hard Rock DC is taking part in the chain’s annual “LOVE OUT LOUD” campaign, with Pride merch, specials on June 20, and a donation to The Trevor Project.