Hello, Darlings! 🌈 It’s the most special time of the year. Now that we’re finally past Independence Day, it’s time to start planning for Halloween, or as we like to call it: Gay Christmas. We’ve rounded up some events that will let you get into the spirit right now, during the heat of July. 🦇

But first, we’re taking a quick detour into Christmas, because you can win two free tickets to Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme’s annual eruption of festive chaos: The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show. It’s happening on Wednesday, 11/25 through Friday, 11/27 at New York City Center.*

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• The Skivvies’ present a barely dressed, mashed-up spin on Rocky Horror in The Rocky Horror Skivvies Show at Joe’s Pub on Monday, 10/26. Part concert, part Halloween foreplay and all camp.

• Heartbeat Opera turns Sweeney Todd into its annual drag extravaganza in Queeney Todd: The Demon Bottom of Fleet Street. The show runs at Judson Memorial Church from Thursday, 10/22, through Saturday, 10/31.

• Drag Race favorite Valentina just joined the cast of The Rocky Horror Show at Studio 54, making her Broadway debut as the regular Frankie Fan in the cult musical’s revival. You can catch her on stage for a limited run starting right now!

WHERE TO GET SPOOKY IN JULY

We’ve rounded up the beautifully dark little corners of New York where October is more of a mindset than a month. These reoccurring parties happen all year long.

• SVMMON @ TALON BAR

• PROCESSION @ HOME SWEET HOME

• BAT CLUB @ DROM

• MASKED GOTHS TAKEOVER @ PURGATORY

• UNDERWORLD PARTY @ TV EYE

• THE RED PARTY @ MERCURY LOUNGE

• SYNTHICIDE @ BOSSA NOVA CIVIC CLUB

THIS WEEKEND

LOCALS ONLY

• Did you know that Green-Wood Cemetery is packed with LGBTQ history, including the graves of Leonard Bernstein, Fred Ebb, Emma Stebbins, and other queer New Yorkers whose stories are hiding in plain sight among the mausoleums. Take a stroll and honor NYC’s queerly departed.

• In keeping with our spooky theme this week, Gay Street may already have the perfect name, but did you know it also has a reputation for paranormal activity? The tiny, crooked West Village block has centuries of history, strange architecture, and enough alleged hauntings to make it worth a special detour.

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