LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Among the festivities in Louisville this month was the third annual HalloQueen Fest, an event celebrating Halloween and LGBTQ+ Pride.
More than 100 vendors were set up at the event at American Turners-Louisville on Oct. 23 and 24.
The festival featured live entertainment, including drag queens performing to songs like AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" and Miley Cyrus' "Can't Be Tamed."
“It’s definitely something unique," said Adam Miller, the event's founder. "We help provide Halloween and Pride together and help provide a family-oriented event that truly welcomes everyone.”
Drag Queen Dusty Ray Bottoms, a Louisville-native who appeared in season 10 of the show “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” hosted the festivities.
“I’ve been working with Ban Conversion Therapy Kentucky because I'm a conversion therapy survivor and we’re really thankful and so lucky to have Ban Conversion Therapy as one of the sponsors this year for HalloQueen," she told Spectrum News 1. "It’s just awesome to see just the visibility of our community and being able to see other people like ourselves here celebrating Halloween and each other, it’s just the best."
It was the first year Max Wilder attended the event.
“Just for people in the community, sometimes we’re not really safe to be out in other areas, especially me being a trans individual, so it’s just nice to have a safe space where me and my kiddo could kind of come and just feel relaxed and not have to worry about anything," Wilder said.
The event is an annual fundraiser for Drag Queen Story Time Kentucky.