Meow, meow, meow: I hope you’re having a purrfect week, Reader. I’ve started this column on a feline note because the Chronicle’s frequent visitor, a fluffy black cat we call Sriracha, came by this morning and let me pet them. (Yeah, I’m still on the woke operating system where I don’t like to use gendered pronouns for animals if IDK what they’re working with.) Life really seems better after a cat meows at you. Anyway, onward into the October event rush.
OH ALSO: Thanks to everyone I chatted with at Lone Star Zine Fest last weekend. I tabled with my personal zines under Just James Press, but also had a wonderful time meeting Qmmunity and Chronicle readers. It’s nice to hear people like the column, like, out loud and in person. Especially grateful to the person who said “Oh! You’re the funny one!” when I told them my name and employer. In college, I got the chance to have drinks with Susan Stryker before her speaking engagement through our university’s Women & Gender Studies department. There was a large group of us chatting with her, and later a friend referenced me when discussing the event with another participant. They drew a blank from my name alone, and so my friend said, “He was the jokes boy” – a moniker based on my inability to go two seconds without humorous interjection even when in the presence of a leading trans scholar. That immediately jogged the other person’s memory. Great to know that this particular attribute continues to be my most notable. I’m forever the funny one, the jokes boy, the eternal clown sans facepaint (too sweaty).
Marvel Witches & Sorcerers Trivia
Thursday 15, Vigilante Gastropub & Games
Come in for a spell and see if you’ve got the magick knowledge of the MCU’s more mystical characters to win this trivia night hosted by Lawrie Bird. 7:30pm.
Bite-A-Dyke
Thursday 15, the Flower Shop
Sipping Sapphic organizer Xander the Party Pixie celebrates their birthday with a vampy to-do featuring comedy, belly-dancing, burlesque, blood pit wrestling, live music, as well as an R&B-themed drag show. 7pm.
BaeCL
Friday 16, Neon Grotto
Need an indoor edition of the last two weekends’ pricey Zilker Park party? Babe ATX brings together DJ sets by Hip Stir, Loa, and MARISSA at the Grotto’s downstairs area. 9pm.
Pumpkin Party
Friday 16, King Bee
Carve a creepy or cute face into either a provided or otherwise procured pumpkin with your Little Gay Shop and Queer Craft Night friends. Tools and stencils supplied. 6:30pm.
333: Major Arcana
Friday 16, Tiny Minotaur Tavern
The Trans Era leads an all-trans cast for this edition of her gothic fantasy drag show – themed to the major arcana of tarot. Sacred Yolotl opens with a group divination. 9pm.
Bark After Dark
Friday 16, Sir Rat Leather and Gear
Wag your tail to terrifying tunes spun by DJ Exiled Electronica and Boost at this Halloween party featuring vendors, costumes, bootblacks, and hot dogs – and not just the kind that come with ketchup and mustard. 7pm.
Ghosted! By Roz Hernandez
Saturday 17, Cheer Up Charlies
Podcast taping alert: Comedian Roz Hernandez brings her queer paranormal cast to Chup’s for a taping featuring an audience ghost story competition. 8pm.
Slay the System II
Saturday 17, Epoch Coffee – Village
Colors of Pride brings back their evening of entertainment and education with performances, free food and drink, and “a real, unfiltered chat about voting, showing up, and tapping into our collective power.” 5pm.
The Glow Up
Saturday 17, Atomic Heart Lounge
Host Maxine LaQueene opens this drag stage to everyone for a non-competitive show. Kickoff performance special guest mentor is Jupiter. 9pm.
OutWellness Halloween Party
Saturday 17, RSVP for location
These local wellness workers are throwing a Halloween happening with a healthy amount of creepy crafts and a costume contest for the most creative, the best group, and the scariest looks. 8pm.
Second Annual Sandwich Gala: Club Sandwich
Saturday 17, Lynny’s on 12th
Another year in the books means Lynny’s is serving up the runway once more with a slathering of slayful sandwich-inspired looks. Wear your best lettuce, tomato, bacon, and beyond with host Aira Juliet providing culinary commentary. From the kitchen come spaghetti sandwiches, so even if you don’t get the grand prize trophy, everyone goes home full. 8pm.
Hard Rubber
Saturday 17, Coconut Club
Laser pit opens up for all “rubberristas” with spins by Mrs. Javii and Body Mechanics’ Dream Days. 10pm.
Georgetown Pride
Saturday 17, Wellspring UMC
Celebrate the Ls, the Bs, the Gs, the Ts, and the pluses of this community with your Georgetown fam. RSVP for free to give the organizers a good headcount. 1pm.
A Formal Fetish Affair
Saturday 17, Beerburg
A night of kinky glamour awaits for you and yours at this gala held by Boop Society of Central Texas. There’ll be food, entertainment, a play room, and all the sexy stuff you’d expect. Chique Fil-Atio emcees. 6pm.
Coming Out: Night of the Living Gays
Saturday 17, ColdTowne Theater
Moe Christine wrangles this cavalcade of queer comics into a showcase that’ll have you laughing, loving, and absolutely living for it, honey. 8pm.
Coco Coquette’s 11th Annual Costume Sale
Sunday 18, Coco Coquette
Get your Halloween look down by sifting through the vintage and handmade treasures buried in this East Austin spot. This year’s sale features new vendors, old friends, and even gems from the late Lucy in Disguise vault. Noon.
Everything’s Bigger Cabaret
Sunday 18, Showpony
May Buzetti hosts this night of drinks, raffles, and showghouls for one night only. 7pm.
Austin Idol Season 2 Finale
Sunday 18, Highland Lounge
Aria Rey’s songbird competition crowns its winner this weekend, with Drag Race’s Adore Delano as special guest judge. 8pm.
Black Lesbian Journal Club
Sunday 18, allgo
Now at a new location, this Black-sapphics-only social offers journaling prompts and creative support to those itching to pen their feelings. Plus, bring your paddleboard or kayak for a post-meeting sail from Rowing Dock. 2pm.
Queer Frequencies
Sunday 18, Otherworld
Incoming transmission from Planet Dance: This Halloween edition of Exiled Electronica’s groove sesh features Lavender Thug, Fish_Frogs, Dante999, and Annihilate on the decks. Cupcake hosts. 6pm.
Revenge Revue: A Feminine Rage Show
Sunday 18, Revenge Bar
Fierce and fiery feminine fury rules this show from Nicolita and LeFevres Traveling Cabaret, traveling in from New Orleans. 6:30pm.
A Brunch of Drag
Sunday 18, Firehouse Lounge
See performances by Serena Blake, Paris Heels Epiphany, Kylie Kinks, and DJ Xoy with Eileen Dover on host duty. Noon.
Queer Two Step
Monday 19, Sagebrush
With live music by Devin Jake, dance lessons from Driftin Cowpoke, and the introduction of vendor pop-up Cuntry Store, your boots’ll be sliding on your feet all by themselves just to get you on this dance floor quicker. 7pm.
Indieween
Tuesday 20, Cheer Up Charlies
Spin the clock back to Halloween in the 2010s at this indie music-centric celebration featuring performances by Aqua Marie Pardi, Embry Officially, Peewee Her-Man, and Sir Dree. Kino Kino DJs. 9pm.
LegiSLAYtion & Liberation
Tuesday 20, Oilcan’s
Brigitte Bandit brings back her civics crash course for the upcoming midterm elections with info on voting requirements, locations, and just what the heck’s on the ballot this year. Drag performances also, duh-doy. 7pm.
Animated Horrors
Tuesday 20, Ani’s Day & Night
The Freakz of Nature present another drag open stage, this time themed around cartoon creepies. Riot Eterna Molotov and Jack the Stripper co-host. 7pm.
Calabazas y Chismes
Wednesday 21, Mueller Lake Park
Meet Somos Sapphics at the Mueller Lake Park pond for a pumpkin-carving hangout. BYOGT, as in bring your own gourd and tools. 6pm.
The Ghoul of Rain Pageant
Wednesday 21, Rain on 4th
Basura hosts this competition to see who’s the most G.O.R.-geous creature on Fourth Street. Winner grabs a $500 prize as well as a crown and paid booking, but the audience wins a great show just by attending. 10pm.
Night of 1,000 Elviras
Thursday 22, Elysium
There’s never enough Elvira, but maybe a thousand will satisfy as Shock Therapy delivers a tribute to the Mistress of Darkness. Munster Mash hosts and BB Crux does DJ duties, plus live tunes by Aggressive Menace. 11:30pm.
This article appears in October 16 • 2026.
