May 30 from 7:00 pm–10:00 pm
Creative Suitland Arts Center
4719 Silver Hill Road
Suitland-Silver Hill, MD 20746
EFFERVESCENT is a celebration of love, joy, wellness, and visibility for the LGBTQIA+ community (ages 18+). This event loudly and proudly amplifies the work of queer artists and makers, organizations, and cultural architects.
This year, Creative Suitland’s Effervescent pays tribute to William Dorsey Swann, a pioneer and icon of drag, activism, and dance. The “Queen of Drag” was a formerly enslaved person whose audacity and innovation was the forerunner to ballroom culture in Washington, DC. Among other heroic acts, this trailblazer stood up to the police who arrested the performer for the first documented case of “female impersonation”. Swann is also the first person on record, through a request for a presidential pardon, to pursue legal and political action to defend the LGBTQ community’s right to gather.
In honor of Swann, we are throwing a party! Come in your best drag and enjoy music, dance, food, drink, fellowship, art, and joy!
Hosted by Rich Rocket and special guest emcee Rayceen Pendarvis, this is more than an event, it’s a whole experience! Expect nothing but good energy, undeniable vibes, and a space where you can show up boldly, freely, and fully yourself. Pull up, plug in, and live out loud.
Performances by Comedian Grace Wynter and Dance Company Afta Shock.
Mini Ball with two categories: First Time in Drag and Best Dressed Spectator
Dance Party w/ DJ Blasian!
Pride365 is a registered trademark of the Capital Pride Alliance (CPA). CPA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, through educational programs, major events, fundraising, outreach and advocacy, providing platforms for visibility, and supporting the work of our many community organizations and local businesses. Learn More