Lower Adirondack Pride’s Big Gay Blizzard

After a whirlwind of activities in the new year, from my induction into political office, starting a new career in the County Clerk’s office, hosting a final Stranger Things Watch Party, and coping the bout of seasonal flu, I donned a suit, with a Wood Theater name tag, and drove into downtown on a rainy, Saturday evening for the Lower Adirondack Pride’s Big Gay Blizzard Drag Show a couple weeks ago. It was their first event of the year, with seven drag queens gracing the stage at the Wood Theater, for an entertaining show in January.

I parked on South Street, across from the ED Center, an hour prior to my expected arrival time to the Wood Theater in order to grab a cup of tea and dumplings from the Bastard Restobar. I remembered first stepping foot into their threshold last year after Michael and I enjoyed a delicious meal after securing our marriage license from the City Clerk. After some pleasantries with Chef Shannon and the other staff, I sat at the counter to drink tea and continue reading the voluminous novel about Mark Twain by Ron Chernow. Mr. Chernow is famous for writing a biography of Alexander Hamilton that was the inspiration of songwriter Lin Manuel Miranda to create the epic Hamiliton Broadway Musical. His diligently researched novel about Mark Twain paints a unique picture of the famous writer and public figure in United States history.

After a lovely, relaxing tea, scrumptious dumplings, and reading time, I paid the check and ventured outside, walking along the icy sidewalks toward the Wood Theater. I glanced at the incredible progress of Bocaccio’s construction with the new apartments next to New Way Lunch as I turned onto Glen Street, spotting the large marque sign for the theater up ahead. Walking into the lobby, I stopped at the box office to offer condolences to Emily Murphy who experienced the tragic passing of her dog, Hobbes, recently. I exhumed praise about her wonderful essay that she shared about memories with her dog, as I continued into the theater, meeting up with the house manager, Karen. While Karen divulged where each usher should be stationed before the show, a staff member from Mean Max was setting up at the concessions, displaying a broad range of delectable craft brews for sale. Mean Max is a local brewery next door to the Wood Theater, opening their doors in 2014 after a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2012. Over the years, they have become a staple of Glens Falls, and more recently, Troy, New York.

Before the doors opened to the theater, I grabbed a handful of programs and stood by the right entrance to the stadium seating. I realized that this was the first drag show performed on the grand stage, as the previous year’s performance took place in the smaller cabaret space. It certainly led credence to its marque name of Big Gay Blizzard, especially given the wintry snow outside the theater. Karen opened the main doors moments later, indicating that guests can begin heading to their seats or grabbing a beverage from concessions. I recognized lots of faces, including former coworkers from GlobalFoundries and Benedict Dickinson last year. They were ecstatic to learn about all the new civic developments in my life since leaving my previous employers. I chatted briefly with the official photographer, Tyler, and watched hundreds of guests enthusiastically chat with each other as they walked to their seats.

As the stadium seating filled to near capacity, the energy in the room was palpable, with Pete Wilhelm, or DJ Young Pete, introducing Cam Cardinale to the stage for opening remarks. He talked briefly about the exciting events coming up this year, as well as a surprising accomplishment in the town of Fort Ann. Lower Adirondack Pride secured approval for a banner installation at a busy intersection to ensure the LGBTQIA+ community in the nearby town felt seen. Cam also unveiled an exciting proclamation, to the surprise of Emily Murphy, recognizing and honoring the Wood Theater for its outstanding partnership, leadership, and commitment to inclusion and equity. It was a particularly perfect evening to announce this proclamation, given the importance that “the arts play a vital role in fostering community connection, cultural expression, and belonging”, as Cam eloquently stated.

Following that excitement, Cam introduced Stella Progress, an award-winning drag performer in the New York Capital Region. Stella introduced each subsequent drag performer on stage throughout the night, cultivating laughter from the audience and highlighting stories about each performer. Local talent, from Lola the Doll, Ms. Kitten Kaboodle, Katarina Mirage, Merlina LaPearle, Serafina Silver, and Starling Silver, galivanted on stage, dressed in gorgeous swimsuits, dazzling dresses, or seductive lingerie, dancing and singing to iconic pop music with a delighted audience. To the amazement of all, most of the performers ascended the stairs into the audience, snagging dollar bills from outstretched hands and creating unforgettable moments for the audience.

As I learned from an article from Advocate, the history of drag queens spans a century, going back to the late 1800’s, particularly in Harlem, New York neighborhoods. As journalist Scottie Andrew reports, “One of the first known people to call themselves a ‘queen of drag’ was William Dorsey Swann. A formerly enslaved man, Swann in 1882 began hosting guests, many of them former slaves, for drag dances at his Washington, DC home.” His reporting illuminate’s historian Channing Joseph discovery of William Swann in 2005 and redefined our understanding of LGBTQIA+ history. Channing Joseph’s TED Talk in 2022 brilliantly weaves together his discoveries of queer liberation over the 20th century.

Joe E. Jeffreys, another drag historian and adjunct instructor at New York University, states, “drag is the theatrical exaggeration of gender. The artform constantly subverts what people think they know about gender." The popularity of RuPaul’s Drag Race, now embarking on their eighteenth season, shows the increasing demand in the world. But, in our current political landscape, drag queens and trans people are being systematically targeted by Republican-controlled state legislators, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in the LGBTQIA+ community. In 2023 near Luzerne, New York, Rockwell Falls Public Library was shut down after violent protests from conservative residents and nonresidents over their planned Drag Story Hour.

But resistance and hope are rising. Rockwell Falls Public Library opened back up in 2025, and attendance at Lower Adirondack Pride’s yearly festivals, along with Albany and Saratoga Pride Festivals, keeps increasing year-after-year. And the comraderies of the Big Gay Bizzard Drag Show in the Wood Theater continues to show that the queer community will survive.

Nino Testa, an associate professor of professional practice in women and gender studies at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, is quoted as saying, "Queer people have always found creative ways to resist the violence of their experience and norms that have tried to restrict our ability to live freely in the world. Drag is a process of that resistance. These communities formed as a response to harassment, exclusion and violence. I'm hopeful in the sense that we've done this before -- we never stopped doing it."

As 2026 unfolds, we must continue to strive for inclusion, representation, and dignity for all, and as drag queens are known for, to have fun along the way.