October brings a little bit of everything to Charlotte’s LGBTQ+ community. LGBTQ+ History Month and National Coming Out Day arrive alongside a packed calendar of drag performances, community gatherings, live entertainment and opportunities to connect.
And, of course, October means Halloween. As the month goes on, costumes, horror and plenty of camp take over the calendar, with Halloween drag shows, parties and other spooky celebrations leading all the way to Oct. 31.
Here are some of the events happening around the Charlotte area this October.
Recurring throughout October
Recurring events throughout the month include weekly karaoke nights at Chasers, Bar Bar Argon and The Hideaway in Rock Hill, Southern Country Charlotte dance nights, and Gaming Lounge Charlotte community gaming events. Blumenthal Arts has a packed October calendar spanning theater, live music and performance, with highlights including “The Great Gatsby,” “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” Charlotte Symphony’s “The Music of Tina Turner” and the Indigo Girls with special guest Linda Perry and Burlesque 3000.
Camp North End’s Crossroads Cinema shifts into spooky season with outdoor screenings of “Labyrinth,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Casper” and “Hocus Pocus,” while the Independent Picture House offers a packed October film calendar ranging from new releases and special screenings to horror classics, including “Psycho,” “The Fly” and “Paris Is Burning.” The Carolina Theatre also leans into spooky season with its month-long “sCarolina” series, featuring Hereditary, Obsession, The Rocky Horror Picture Show Spooktacular Tour with Barry Bostwick and “sCarrie Prom” with a 50th anniversary screening of Carrie.
Festivals & fall favorites
Fall festival season is in full swing throughout October. SCarowinds transforms Carowinds after dark on select nights through Nov. 7, while Scarrigan Farms in Mooresville opens its haunted trail on select October nights. The Carolina Renaissance Festival also returns for its annual fall season with live entertainment, performers, artisans, food and plenty of opportunities to step back in time.
The first weekend of October is especially packed. BOOM Fall Fringe returns Oct. 3–4 with five fringe shows, pop-up performances, a panel discussion and curated afterparty, while the Concord International Festival and Hola Charlotte Festival both take place Oct. 3 with music, dance, food, vendors and cultural programming. Later in the month, Charlotte Area Drag Story Hour hosts Once Upon a Fall Festival Oct. 10 with family-friendly activities and community fun.
October 1
BroadGay returns to Starlight on 22nd with “Burn Book,” a genderf*cked musical parody inspired by one of pop culture’s pinkest and meanest high school comedies. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show beginning at 8:30 p.m.
Southern Country Charlotte Country Night
Southern Country Charlotte kicks off the month at Chasers with an evening of country dancing, music and community.
October 2
Bar Argon combines drag and civic engagement with Fierce Friday: Drag the Vote. Hosted by Lolita Chanel, Vanna Vanity and RC Cola, the night features Medusa Chaos and Vegas Van Dank, with voter registration available throughout the evening.
Chasers gets an early start on spooky season with “Witches & Bitches,” featuring Diamond XL, RC Cola, Leonasia Chanel and Bloody Mary.
October 3
Charlotte Trans Health hosts its annual fundraiser at Griffith Hall at Lenny Boy Brewing with performances, dancing, dinner and drinks and silent and live auctions supporting the organization’s work with transgender and gender-diverse communities.
Charlotte Roller Derby: 20 Leagues Under the Sea
Charlotte Roller Derby celebrates its 20th anniversary at the Grady Cole Center as CLTRD takes on Upstate Roller Derby, with live music, games and anniversary festivities.
October 4
The Crown Kings of Charlotte head to Room Service for a free Renaissance Faire-inspired drag show hosted by Lycan Subscribe and featuring Bee the Bimbo, Juicy, Arizona Coast and Phillie Special.
October 7
SONG Power, SOENC and (Trans)parent Magazine host an afternoon designed to help transgender voters obtain a free voter photo ID that reflects how they look today. Organizers are covering roundtrip transportation from the Arts Factory to the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections and providing lunch.
October 8
Lip Sync Battle Royale returns to Chasers for another night of performers battling it out onstage.
October 9
Sapphic Storytelling: National Coming Out Day
Lesbian Friends of Charlotte and The Sapphic Collective bring their Sapphic Storytelling series back for a National Coming Out Day edition centered on queer women’s stories, connection and community.
Bar Argon hosts Fresh Squeeze with drag shows at 10 and 11 p.m.
October 10
Project Enough hosts a one-day conference on feminism, history and collective action, featuring interactive workshops, conversations, a keynote speech from Kristie Puckett, a vendor and resource fair and opportunities to explore how patriarchy intersects with race, sexuality, gender identity, disability, class and other systems of power.
UltraViolet Sapphic Dance Party
UltraViolet returns to Petra’s for a trans-inclusive and gender-expansive sapphic dance party featuring music, doodle portraits, tarot and community, with proceeds supporting Time Out Youth.
October 11
East Frank Superette & Kitchen in Monroe gets spooky with an 18+ Zombie Prom drag brunch featuring Nova Stella and Karen Affection, with special guests Fellini and Honey Zahra.
October 15
One Voice Chorus of Charlotte kicks off its 37th season at Free Range Brewing with an evening of live cabaret performances featuring chorus members in solo, duo and trio spotlights, along with craft beer and a little October spookiness.
October 16
The Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce brings together businesses, employers, nonprofits, professionals and job seekers from across the region for a free business and career expo at the Grady Cole Center.
Carolina Ascent FC: Superwomen of Charlotte
Carolina Ascent FC celebrates the women who make Charlotte stronger when the club takes on DC Power FC at American Legion Memorial Stadium. The evening includes a pregame tailgate, music, outdoor games, food trucks and a Superwomen of Soccer T-shirt giveaway for the first 2,000 fans.
October 17
PFLAG Family Day at Hi-Wire Brewing
PFLAG Charlotte brings families and chosen families together at Hi-Wire Brewing for an afternoon of family-friendly activities and community connection with local partners.
Sisters of the Coven: DRAGO Charities Drag Brunch
DRAGO Charity Drag Brunch heads to Snooze for a Halloween-inspired afternoon of drag and fundraising benefiting Twirl to the World. A portion of ticket proceeds and additional fundraising will support the organization’s year-round LGBTQ+ community giving.
October 18
After a two-year hiatus, Sofar Sounds Charlotte returns with an intimate concert at Sip City in Uptown, featuring Tecoby Hines, Janelle Symone and Emanuel Wynter. The revived Charlotte series is led by producer, artist and songwriter Lamar Atkins.
October 22
Lip Sync Battle Royale: Halloween Edition
Chasers gets into the Halloween spirit with a special edition of Lip Sync Battle Royale.
October 23
Girls Room takes over The Music Yard for an immersive LGBTQ+ Halloween celebration featuring DJs, performers, vendors and dancing.
October 23-24
Queen City Concerts brings “The SpongeBob Musical” to Booth Playhouse for three performances, featuring original songs from artists including Sara Bareilles, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, The Flaming Lips and more.
October 24
The Vanity House celebrates Halloween at Catalú with HallowQueen Drag Brunch, bringing costumes, drag performances, brunch and spooky-season camp together.
Sapphic Summit Society heads to Hanging Rock State Park for a community hike beginning at 10 a.m. at the visitor center. The outing is open to queer friends and allies.
October 24-25
Uptown Sound, Queen City Performing Arts’ contemporary a cappella ensemble, presents “Pick Your Poison” at RSVP South End. The cabaret explores temptation, resilience, heartbreak and triumph through contemporary vocal arrangements of music from Billie Eilish, MUNA, Florence + the Machine and more.
October 25
Chasers hosts its Sunday Service Day Party with DJ Vanna Vanity.
Halloween Brunch at Armored Cow Brewing Co.
LOC Productions returns for a spooky drag brunch hosted by Lolita Chanel and RC Cola, featuring Kid Charlemane, The Royal Kitty and Nacho Novio.
October 27
Readers gather at Mint Hill Library to discuss Natasha Siegel’s “As Many Souls as Stars” as part of the local sapphic book club series.
October 30
Haus of Terror Presents: BLOODY BASH!
Haus of Terror takes over Snug Harbor for a Halloween drag, burlesque and theatrical showcase. The night includes an early show, costume contest, midnight show, gogo dancers and music from DJ Twincest.
Bar Argon brings “Rocky Horror” to Fierce Friday with a pair of Halloween-weekend drag shows.
October 31
Celebrate Halloween with a free horror-filled drag show hosted by RC Cola and Lolita Chanel, featuring Missy V Sour, Bubbles Liqueur and Ms. Anne Throat at Common Market Oakwold. The evening also includes three costume contests.
Bar Argon and The Gaming Lounge close out October with Murder on the Dance Floor, a 21+ Halloween dance party and costume contest, featuring DJ Mary Mary.
The Woodshed Bar celebrates Halloween with DJ Quintin, three bars to bevy up to and a midnight costume contest with a $500 prize.
Chasers hosts a Halloween costume party hosted by Vegas Van Dank and featuring performances from Azreil Starr, Ms. Anne Throat and Kid Charlemagne, with $500 in costume-contest prize money.
Sofar Sounds Charlotte closes the month at Songbirds in University City with DJ Eric Carter, Carlos Dewayne and Harmonee Moon.
This story is brought to you by Rosedale Health and Wellness and Dudley’s Place.
