Celebrate Elton John, Make the Yuletide Gay (Twice), Support Ferndale Pride and Ozone House
In the words of Mariah Carey, “It’s tiiiiiiime!"
The holiday season is upon us, folks, and your friends here at Pride Source have all the “gay happy meetings” and events you won't want to miss. After all, the new year isn’t far off, so there’s no better time to let loose and have fun before the inevitable pressure to improve ourselves with resolutions.
Let the joy of this season come freely as you unwrap what we have in store for you — from fundraisers to concerts and drag shows, there’s something for everyone, the naughty and the nice.
1. Glam Out at an Elton Tribute Show
As Elton himself sang on his 1974 holiday classic, “Step into Christmas” with a musical tribute extravaganza featuring all the glamor and showmanship of the icon himself. During "Captain Fantastic — The Tribute To Elton John," marvel at the elaborate costuming (and glasses, of course!) and sit back and be taken on a musical journey by an Elton John impersonator.
It's the musical gift that keeps on giving, too — in addition to Elton favorites, you'll also catch some of Billy Joel’s best, performed by tribute band 52nd Street.
Dec. 21, 7 p.m., District 142 (142 Maple St., Wyandotte). Snag tickets at bit.ly/4inPija.
2. Feel the Joy of Drag
The Flint Institute of Music’s Make the Yuletide Gay won't be your average drag show. The 90-minute performance is bursting at the seams with energy and heart — featuring 11 drag queens from across the state, plus special guest Miss Gay America 1982 winner Astara Love! “It’s all about having a good time, laughing together and even becoming part of the experience,” said Amanda Sauvie, manager of community programs, in a news release.
Dec. 18, 7 p.m., FIM Capitol Theatre (140 E. 2nd St., Flint). More information at bit.ly/3ZDuBZi.
3. Play Games While Supporting a Good Cause
Pride Month may be far off, but the preparations for its celebrations are not. Kicking off the new year, Ferndale Pride is holding weekly events to fundraise for upcoming pride experiences. The first of which, a euchre tourney, is in collaboration with Ferndale’s Elks Club, an organization focused on community service and promotion of well-being. “As a long time Elk, this event is a great way to combine two of the most recognizable groups in Ferndale,” event director Julia Music told Pride Source.
Before you head off to the beer tent in May, you can help support Ferndale Pride in others ways too! Test your “Schitt’s Creek” knowledge at their upcoming trivia event, take a moment to center yourself at the Psychic Self Care Fair or venture out to another upcoming event in support of this LGBTQ-supportive community organization.
Weekly Euchre starting Jan. 10, 7 p.m., Ferndale Elks Lodge (22856 Woodward Ave, Ferndale). Visit ferndalepride.com/events for more information on upcoming events.
4. Give Back to Queer Youth By Checking That List Twice
In the winter months, those experiencing housing insecurity are at their most vulnerable. Ypsilanti’s Ozone House provides shelter and resources to displaced youth, including young LGBTQ+ folks who have nowhere else to go.
In honor of the holiday season, the organization is asking the community for help in providing their youth with the products they need — and they’re making it easy via an Amazon wishlist filled with commonly requested items. It’s your chance to play Santa and help those in need have the holiday they deserve.
Ozone House Drop-In Center (102 N. Hamilton, Ypsilanti). The wish list can be found at bit.ly/3Vo5dV4 and for more Ozone House services, check out ozonehouse.org.
5. Do Your Last Minute Shopping at a LGBTQ+ Holiday Market
Would it even be the holidays if you weren’t putting off gift shopping until the last minute? Before you put it off any longer, Affirmations has just the event for supporting Michigan businesses: 30 local vendors, from candlemakers to apparel designers, will be showing off their wares at the Make The Yuletide Gay holiday market on Dec. 14. If you’re in need of that something special, why not support local LGBTQ+ creatives in the process?
Dec. 14, 12-6 p.m., Affirmations Community Center (290 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale). A full participating vendor list and other info can be found at bit.ly/3ZD6av7.
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