The room glowed purple as drag icon Detox strutted about in a chic black corset, lip-synching to "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails. Her voluminous black wig and fishnet bodysuit fit right in among a bar full of festive Seattleites at Queer/Bar's Halloween show this past Saturday, Oct. 30.

Those who donned costumes had the chance to participate in a best-dressed contest, judged by none other than reality television personality Ms. Juicy Baby of Little Women: Atlanta. She stood in her leather Catwoman suit, cheering on costumed patrons as they lined up one by one, attempting to give their most impressive runway performances. It became clear who was going to win when a participant sauntered to the front of the line in an equally stunning Catwoman suit, wowing the audience and Ms. Juicy herself.

Detox and Ms. Juicy Baby headlined this Halloween edition of Queer/Bar's "Seasons," a series of drag events featuring big-name performers from all over the US.

The series is halfway through, but the remaining shows will feature guest performances by LaLa Ri, Laganja Estranja, Olivia Luxx, Kim Chi, and Jake DuPree. Some shows are sold out, but the remaining tickets are available at Queer/Bar's website (https://www.thequeerbar.com/). Limited tickets may be available at the door.

Queer/Bar announced "Seasons" to bring in an exciting lineup after over a year and a half of uncertainty and bar closures. When asked about planning the upcoming performances, marketing manager Tanner McLaughlin stated, "We're grateful we can serve our community again in a safe space and continue to provide a platform for queer arts on a local, national, and international level. Showcasing a diverse range of talent is extremely important to us, and we aim to reflect that in our upcoming shows and beyond."

And Queer/Bar does just that. Most of the visiting performers' claim to mainstream fame is RuPaul's Drag Race, the reality TV show in which contestants compete to be crowned "America's next drag superstar." The series has garnered a massive fan base since its start in 2009 and is often how younger people are exposed to drag as an art form. Although it is wildly entertaining, arguments abound over Drag Race's impact on what it means to support and engage with Queer art and drag. Drag Race superfans can often forget that the celebrity queens on their TV screens are part of a rich Queer history and culture that stems from deep community pride.

This is where Queer/Bar's event planning has stepped in and created something special. While the "Seasons" guest stars do shine, their performances are accompanied by those of local Seattle artists, who are also given a chance to show the audience their unique styles. Attendees intent on seeing their favorite queen from TV thus also support their own community's performers, who make up the majority of the "Seasons" lineups. In this way, Queer/Bar's lineups embrace the magic of community.