A short workweek doesn’t make the weekend any less sweet. LGBT Atlanta rolls out weekend-long festivals, shows and parties to make sure that your Friday through Sunday is extra gay.
Friday, July 5
Atlanta Bear Fest (top photo) is the annual gathering of furry men and the men who love them hosted by Southern Bears. An Eagle evening cookout on Thursday led into Friday host hotel fun like the Bear Island pool party, 12 noon @ Courtyard Northlake Marriott, all day, followed by a shuttle to enjoy DJ Lydia Prim @ the Eagle, 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday events, too.
Dinner & A Movie: “Romy and Michele's High School Reunion” (second photo) kicks off Jungle’s Friday with Jaye Lishe and some great drink and food specials in the Jungle Room @ Jungle, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Then it’s The Other Show with Edie Cheezburger and her cast of crazies, this week celebrating the birthday/ fulltime farewell to cast member Justice Tyana Taylor, 9:30 p.m.
“5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche” continues its comedy on stage @ Shakespeare Tavern, 8 p.m. Through July 15.
BanjeeGirl Friday gets your lesbian weekend started with a DJ-driven dance party and all the ladies you can handle with the TraxxGirls promoters @ My Sister’s Room, 9 p.m.
The Fab Five weekly drag revue puts the glamazons on display each week hosted by Angelica D’Paige @ Burkhart’s, 11 p.m.
Kelly Rowland Release Party (third photo) cranks up the volume on the weekly FUR Friday man-to-man dance party. Get into it this week with the beats of guest DJ Mike Pope and giveaways featuring Rowland's new “Talk A Good Game” @ Heretic, 10 p.m.
Got Leche? celebrates the weekend each and every Friday with Atlanta’s weekly gay Latin night @ Club Rush, 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. This week, don’t miss the Nuestra Belleza Gay Latina pageant with swimsuit, talent and evening gown competitions hosted by Phoenix.
Saturday, July 6
Atlanta Bear Fest (fourth photo) gathers for its annual pursuit of the hirsute, including but by no means limited to Bear Island Party 2 @ Courtyard Northlake Marriott, 12 noon, some off-site clothing optional action, 1 p.m., and the Mr. Atlanta Bear & Cub Contest @ the Eagle, 10 p.m. Check out photos from last year’s contest. Sunday events, too.
Early Country & Late Night Dance offers line dancing and two stepping after the sun goes down, then DJ Mike Pope picks up the pace until close @ Heretic, 8 p.m. and 12 midnight.
Ruby’s Redd Light District continues the newest edition to the drag landscape with the foul-mouthed hostess, great food, cocktials and cast members including Gia Sunflowers, Myah Ross Monroe, Marcella Grrleen Redd, Summer Knight, Trashetta Galore, and River Song-Redd in the Jungle Room @ Jungle, 9 p.m.
Cancer Zodiac Birthday Party (fifth photo) celebrates the birthday babies including MSR’s own co-owner Jami with DJs Liz Owen and Tina V, “That’s What I Call Drag” on stage and Saturday’s biggest lesbian dance party every week @ My Sister’s Room, 9 p.m.
DJ Morabito (fifth photo) returns sans first name as legendary Queen of the Circuit. Nobody moves you like Morabito. Get into the groove @ Jungle, 10:30 p.m.
Saturday Night Live: Firework Edition with Rockstars Production is the annual dance party for gay men of color celebrating red, white and you @ 595 North, 10 p.m.
Extravaganza Show is the weekly fabulosity hosted by big, blonde and beautiful Shavonna B. Brooks and cast @ Burkhart’s, 11 p.m.
DJ Martin Fry All-Nighter is the afterparty you were wondering about. Scoot on down after Jungle for the partiers who can’t stop until daybreak @ Xion, 3 a.m. – 7 a.m.
Sunday, July 7
Fuzzy wuzzy was the Atlanta Bear Fest, wrapping with brunch at the host hotel, poolside fun, then a Wind Down Cookout with DJ Eric @ Atlanta Eagle, 5 p.m.
Silent Sundays are the weekly chill sessions this summer on the extremely gay-friendly WET deck with extremely flowing cocktails for extremely relaxing fun, lunch and sun @ W Midtown, 12 noon.
The Armorettes: Holidays in July puts the cast up to commemorating usual and unusual holidays around the world during their three-decade weekly camp drag for the HIV/AIDS fight in Atlanta, hosted this week by Ruby Redd (bottom photo), the Bestest of the Best of Gay Atlanta Drag Queens @ Burkhart’s, 8 p.m.
Flashback Showgirls is the new show that takes you back, all the way back to a new decade each month. Lady Shabazz leads the cast every Sunday starting this week @ 10th & Piedmont, 8 p.m.
