Henderson KY Pride is taking its annual Halloween drag fundraiser to a much bigger stage this year, moving the 18-and-older Haunted Haus of Drag into the Preston Arts Center on October 23. The show will feature local, regional and nationally recognized drag entertainers performing under a haunted runway theme that blends drag performance with horror couture, Halloween styling and high fashion. Tickets are already more than 60% sold, and organizers say only one VIP table remains.
The move to the Preston Arts Center marks a shift for Henderson KY Pride, according to WSON AM & FM. Executive Director Cooper Beck said, “Haunted Haus of Drag has continued to grow each year, and moving into the Preston Arts Center gives us an opportunity to create an entirely different experience for our audience.” The venue, located on the Henderson Community College campus, houses McCormick Hall, a 960-seat theater with 727 main-floor orchestra seats and 233 balcony seats, per the Henderson Area Arts Alliance.
A Lineup With National Drag Credentials
A special guest on the bill is Chicago-based drag artist Aurora Gozmic, who competed on Season 6 of the Boulet Brothers' Dragula, a reality horror-drag competition series, according to Out Magazine. Gozmic will travel to Henderson for a performance on the haunted runway and will also headline a private VIP show ahead of the main event, the WSON report notes.
Also on the bill is Sinema LaRue, who according to America's Bearded Queen was crowned the inaugural Desert Diva Bearded Queen in June 2026 after previously winning the Lone Star Bearded Queen title in Texas in 2024. LaRue will travel from Houston for the show, the same organizational report indicates. Rounding out the lineup as emcee is Leah Halston, known as The Chocolate Thunder, a Louisville entertainer who hosts The Play Mates at Play Louisville — a prominent LGBTQ+ nightclub on East Washington Street, as noted by First Friday Hop.
What Attendees Can Expect on the Haunted Runway
The event carries adult themes and content, strong language, loud music, flashing lights and theatrical effects, and organizers are restricting entry to guests 18 and older. Attendees are encouraged to come in costume for the haunted runway, which will also include a costume contest with prizes. A cash bar will run throughout the evening, in partnership with Beverage Barn, though alcohol service is limited to guests 21 and older with valid physical identification, per the organizational information shared with WSON.
General admission tickets cost $25, while Henderson KY Pride Circle members receive $10 off, bringing their price to $15. The lone remaining VIP table seats eight guests and includes reserved seating, early admission, drink tickets and the private pre-show performance by Gozmic, all for $350, according to a Facebook post from Henderson KY Pride Inc. All proceeds from Haunted Haus of Drag will benefit Henderson KY Pride's year-round LGBTQIA+ programming, advocacy, community events and resources.
From Class Project to Regional Pride Powerhouse
Henderson KY Pride's growth into a major fixture on the Western Kentucky LGBTQIA+ calendar has been rapid. The organization originated as a college class project and held its inaugural Pride celebration in 2024 before expanding into one of the region's largest LGBTQIA+ events, according to Queer Kentucky. Its third annual summer festival in June 2026 hosted more than 85 vendors and 30 performers, headlined by RuPaul's Drag Race Season 12 winner Jaida Essence Hall, the outlet reported.
Beck graduated from Henderson County High School in 2023, according to a post in the Living in Henderson Facebook group. The nonprofit has expanded from a small campus project, and the event is planned for a nearly thousand-seat theater.
The Haunted Haus of Drag's move to a larger, more formal venue also comes against a broader backdrop of legislative debate in Kentucky over LGBTQ+ issues and adult entertainment regulation. During the state's 2024 legislative session, lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 147 to define drag performances as “adult-oriented” and restrict where they could take place. That followed the Kentucky General Assembly's March 2023 override of a gubernatorial veto to enact Senate Bill 150, which established restrictions on public school gender and sexual orientation instruction alongside a ban on gender-affirming healthcare for minors, as reported by Courthouse News Service.
