A PRIDE PIVOT: The Queen City Pride Party Steps Up After Buffalo Pride's Canalside Festival Is Canceled

BUFFALO, NY - When Evergreen Health quietly canceled the annual Canalside Pride Festival which follows the parade each year, many were left wondering how Buffalo would celebrate one of its most cherished LGBTQIA+ weekends. But the party is far from over. Thanks to a new partnership between Drag Me to the Stage LLC and Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, the community now has a fabulous new destination to gather, celebrate, and thrive: The Queen City Pride Party - a high-energy Pride street party in the parking lots of Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino on Sunday, June 1.

Drag Me to the Stage - a Buffalo- and Rochester-based production company known for booking stars from RuPaul's Drag Race across the country - quickly teamed up with Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino to ensure the city's Pride spirit stayed alive and visible. The company is co-owned by Buffalo residents Tim Evanicki and Ricardo Torres, along with Rochester's Ed Popil (aka Mrs. Kasha Davis) and producer Steven Levins.

Gates open at 3:00 PM, welcoming attendees to a vibrant outdoor festival atmosphere with over 40 local vendors, mouthwatering food trucks, and outdoor bars serving refreshing cocktails and canned beverages all day long.

The Buffalo Gay Men's Chorus will take the mainstage from 3:30 to 4:00 PM for a powerful performance of queer pride and community. Then DJ Spikey Van Dykey, one of the nation's most celebrated drag kings, takes over the decks for a thumping 4:00 to 5:00 PM DJ set to get the party moving.

At 5:00 PM, it's showtime with a massive outdoor drag show featuring stars from RuPaul's Drag Race, including:

Mrs. Kasha Davis (Season 7, All Stars 8)
Darienne Lake (Season 6, All Stars 6)
Mayhem Miller (Season 10, All Stars 5)
Cynthia Lee Fontaine (Season 8, 9 & All Stars 10 currently airing)

They'll be joined by standout local performers Alice Raige, Vanna Deux, Winter Storm, Freddie Hercury, and Willa DeWhisp - bringing Buffalo's best to the big stage.

From 7:00 to 10:00 PM, the party continues indoors as DJ Spikey Van Dykey returns to spin on the casino floor, keeping the energy high into the night.

Tickets are available now at Ticketmaster and SenecaBuffaloCreekCasino.com.

General Admission: $25 - includes $15 in Free Slot Play
VIP Experience: $50 - includes $20 Free Slot Play, an indoor pre-show meet and greet with all the queens and one complimentary cocktail or canned beverage

Earlier in the day, the RuPaul's Drag Race stars will also appear in the Buffalo Pride Parade at 11:00 AM, bringing their charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent to the streets of Buffalo.

"This event came together fast, but it's filled with heart," said Tim Evanicki, co-owner of Drag Me to the Stage. "Thanks to the incredible support and partnership of Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, we're giving Buffalo the Pride celebration it deserves. This isn't just a show - it's a powerful moment of community resilience, joy, and visibility."

The Queen City Pride Party is presented in partnership with Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino. Must be 21 or older to enter the casino property.