The holidays bring people together, and there is no shortage of opportunities to celebrate this festive time of year with long-standing traditions. But for something far less traditional there is “Make the Yuletide Gay,” an adults-only holiday drag show hosted by local queens Astara Love and Perry Dox on Dec. 18, 7 p.m. The show is part of the monthly donation-based Flint Under the Stars series at the Capitol Theatre, which supports local artists and raises funds for the FIM KidsTix program, expanding access to the arts for kids and their families. 

This high-energy holiday celebration will feature 11 drag queens from across mid-Michigan, plus a special guest and drag queen-celebrity: Miss Gay America 1982. Astara Love, the head queen producing the show, explained that the range of queens performing non-stop in the 90-minute time span make this show an experience unlike any other.   

Never been to a drag show before? No problem! The first thing to remember about “Make the Yuletide Gay” is this show is for adults only – so tuck the little ones in to dream of sugar plums before heading out to the event. The drag queen experience is an interactive one, so bring some dollar bills to tip your favorites and show your appreciation. Finally, be open to the experience.  

“It’s all about having a good time, laughing together and even becoming part of the experience,” said Amanda Sauvie, manager of community programs.  

While the holiday season is joyful for many, it can also magnify negative feelings for those who are lonely or reflecting on family members who have passed on.  

“I think when you’re bringing drag into the holiday, part of what drag queens do is exude emotion and help people. You don’t know whether people have someone or not. This is a way to get them in, get them to feel something and be part of something, feel some joy,” said Love. “Even if someone needs to cry, there’s a queen to hug them and make them feel better.”  

FIM is adamant about producing an array of programming for arts-goers to choose from.  

“If you take a big picture look at the programming we offer, we’re really trying to present a wide variety of entertainment. We want to make sure that our audiences and our performances reflect the full spectrum of our diverse community,” said Sauvie.   

She explained that the recently screened film “Some Like it Hot,” is known as a gateway movie for the LGBTQ+ community in Hollywood and was part of a concerted effort at FIM to make programming more inclusive. “Make the Yuletide Gay” is another example of the ways FIM is appealing to diverse audiences in Flint. 

“When you put on a show like this, it sends a clear message that we support the LGBTQ+ community. We want all of these incredibly talented people to feel supported and included in Flint,” said Sauvie.  

Whether you’re a seasoned drag show attendee or brand new, let the 8-1-Hoes bring some extra sassy joy to your holiday season.  

“Expect the unexpected, and get ready to laugh, smile and sing along,” said Love.