High Heel Race

Love DC’s annual events. The high heel race is a lot of fun — who doesn’t want to watch fabulously outfitted drag queens strut their stuff? And I do mean strut because the ratio of walkers to runners at this event is pretty high. Which is just fine because we’re really there to see the amazing outfits and attitudes on display.
To make the most of your high heel experience:
a. choose where you want to see the racers — at the start when everyone looks their best? Or closer to the finish line where they will be plenty of broken heels and pratfalls.
b. the actual race is about five minutes tops. plan your night and how long you want to stand outside accordingly.
c. before the race there’s a fashion show that last a few hours — probably best to only come for a little bit of that or go and get drinks in between,

This was my first experience with the High Heel Race but I can solidly confirm, it will not be my last! While the actual race (which last maybe 2 seconds-​literally) does not start until 9pm, the ladies parade in their costumes up and down the «race course» starting at 7. Get there at 7 or a little before to ensure you can have a decent spot to see the parading, which I thought was the most entertaining part. The costumes were elaborate (the Fanta girls were one of my favorites!) and you can always make a game of it like my group did and hold a «draft» of what you think the top categories of costumes will be (sadly, I was expecting more Caitlyn Jenner and Danerys from GOT) Since it’s in DuPont, take the metro! Also, if you don’t already have a friend in DuPont-​make one! Our homebase was a few hundred feet from the finish line and allowed us to keep refilling our portable coffee cups with spiked apple cider. Be discrete, police presence is fierce. Hit up this free event next year if you didn’t make it to this one-it’s not to be missed!

The Dupont Circle Drag High Heel Race is equal parts silly and intimidating. The costumes are always excellent, including individuals dressed as pop culture figures, political icons, and other noteworthy persons. The impressiveness stems not only from the carefully sewn costumes, but also from the race component, which sees costumed participants racing around ¼ mile in sky high heels, a feat that would probably land me on my butt in a heartbeat.
If you’ve never been, it’s an easy to attend (albeit crowded) perennial favorite of the Halloween season in DC that is certainly worth attending at least once.

This is such a funky DC tradition, pretty one-​of-​a-​kind if you ask me! Every year on the Tuesday before Halloween drag queens get all dressed up in their highest heels and RUN! They only run a block or so it’s really difficult to see the actions if you’re a shorty like me.
Important: Don’t be dumb and drink alcohol in public at this event, you *WILL* get arrested.

This political town full of brainwashed young sociopaths and insecure professionals could benefit from more events like the DC High Heel Race. Every Tuesday before Halloween, drag queens within the community dress up in ostentatious costumes and race through 17^th street on high heels. How the ones who truly sprint manage to do so without falling is a question for gravity. What is rather unquestionable is that a rather vocal part of the DC community truly gets its rare opportunity to shine in their own unique way during this event. It’s recommended to arrive early as 17^th Street is packed to the gills in spectators. Afterwards, if you are interested, there are plenty of photo opportunities with the contestants.
Where I grew up, this type of event would be considered distasteful. It’s nice to see that stodgy DC at least has some color and some tolerance when compared to other areas of the country.

Next year, I’ll have to wear high heels, because if you are short and vertically challenged late comer like me, you will not be able to see anything at all!
The Drag Queen High Heel Race is an institution that brings out the entire community: young, old, gay, straight, Asian, black, Hispanic, white, cute, ugly, and apparently a sea of tall people who pretty much blocked my view of the everything.
No worries though, it’s a big street party and there was enough revelry after the race to ensure that my trip was not wasted. Children and the meek beware, you will see balls.
Now that I have gotten this off my bucket list here are a few tips/​notes:
*If you dare, bring alcohol. I noticed a lot of friendly and discreet flask passing among the revelry.
*Arrive early, like mad early. I arrived early and still didn’t get a seat.
*All of the restaurants are seriously packed but for some reason the open patio seating at Subway was completely open.
*If you have a friend who lives in the apartments overlooking the parade, this is your time to cash in a friend token and take advantage of their view. I am sad to say that a friendly stranger offered me a spot last year and I was too scared to accept. When I was out on the streets on my tippy toes, I totally regretted my past decision.

DC’s infamous High Heel Race celebrated it’s 26^th anniversary this year. It is a glorious event. Everyone in attendance has an amazing time.
The race generally starts at 9pm and only last about one minute. It is down 17^th Street between local gay hotspots Cobalt and JR’s. Even though the race doesn’t start until 9pm. You’ll want to get there around 7pm. That is when the queens start showing up. The race is essentially a pageant beforehand. The queen stomp up and down 17^th in their campiest attire.
This year, I volunteered to be crowd control for the race. Help us keep the High Heel Race fun by listening to the volunteers, it keeps the queen safe and ensures everyone has a good time.
Remember to have fun!

When asked where the best place to watch the High Heel Drag Race, the answer is simple: on 17^th Street, while rocking out in full drag.
This event, which usually occurs the Tuesday before Halloween, is almost too cool for DC. The Drag Race, H Street Festival, and 17^th Street Festival – which this year usurped both Adams Morgan Day and Columbia Heights Day – are the three mandatory attendance events that occur in the city limits. (Virgin Fest is another must attend event, but is located in Columbia, Maryland.)

I went to this annual pre-​Halloween, weeknight event once about 15 years ago, and it was very entertaining to watch. I recommend it. Lots of men in drag hamming it up as they «race» down a Dupont Circle street.

So fun! Even as popular and heavily attended as the race has gotten, it’s still not hard to find a good spot to see the queens in all their finery. The race itself is at 9 and takes only a couple minutes (a glorious couple minutes!), but the whole event starts well before.
For over an hour beforehand, the queens (including some who are only here for this part) parade up and down 17^th St., yukking it up for the crowd, posing for photos, and so on. I was lucky enough to see a brief but wildly dramatic reenactment of Black Swan performed with great intensity by two queens who put Natalie and Mila to shame. Okay it was basically a slow-​motion fist fight that incorporated exaggerated ballet moves, but that pretty much sums it up anyway.
I love that this has become an event for all ages. The kindergarten-​aged girl across the street from me LOVED the under-​the-​sea queens! When I have kids, they’re definitely coming out to this and taking some photos. Forget Christmas cards featuring them on Santa’s lap. My kids are gonna be clutching the muscular biceps of the whored up Lady Gaga of their generation.

You know how something quirky and cool becomes really commercial…
Pretty soon we’ll have to sit through 10 mins of movie trailers, Bud Light Beer ads, the reality television show and Joan Rivers acting as commentator. «Oh my gawd dah-​ling. Can we tawk?»
Maybe it’s time to start something fresh. Maybe a Halloween Low Heel Drag King race would be something to consider.
I think that this particular race has jumped the shark (or the gay dolphin.)

I went for the first time this year after seeing it on the news for years. It’s an event for all to see. As I walked up from the metro I could see «Queens» getting ready.
It’s almost like a bonding ritual I wished I could be apart of the performances but I’d have to drag as a king (blah!)
Go early like 4 hours early to get the best outside seats at any bar on P and 17^th Street. I never found this Church street! as I walked up and down. hmmm
You will sing show tunes, see Lady Gaga play fight in the glory of the flashing lights of the on lookers.
Don’t want to be photographed, stand back!!! O yeah you can be brave enough to step into the street but it’s a queens world baby! Don’t do anything you’ll regret cause it’s going slam on YOUTUBE… with in hours. seconds of you doing it.
Traditionally: Spectators come wearing halloween costumes and stand in the streets, have drinks, joy and laughs, take pictures and unwind.
FYI: In the past it’s been an adult outing. This year some kids dressed and walked in the parade (with snow white).
Glitter, Snickers and bubbles O MY! all thrown at me and I loved it but the snickers knocked me to the ground!
Ladies will be amazed at the attire and some will even be bold enough to ask for a Queens dress, heel and go get a sound of drinks after the race.

RuPaul, eat your heart out. Who says DC is stodgy and uptight?
Make sure to get there early for this crazy DC tradition — the Tuesday before Halloween means 17^th St NW between P and S gets shut down for the night. Race begins at 9pm but the streets are über packed by 7 (like inauguration 2008 packed…) The local restaurants will be swamped, but you should be able to get a spot in Trio if you get up there by 530/​6ish. If you have a friend who lives on 17^th St with a balcony, this is the time to get them a nice gift and convince them to have a party. (eg. balcony
)
Also, many participants treat this much more like a parade/​beauty pageant than a race and have some pretty awesome float-​like costumes, so bring your camera. Everyone’s friendly, but do expect the crowd to move like molasses/​crush you to death and for it to be impossible to find anyone (unless one of you is over 6’4″).
So get excited Washingtonians. The drag race is coming! The drag race is coming!

Every year on the Tuesday before Halloween men don high heels and RUN! This DC staple of an event lasts approximately 20 seconds but is so fun that the pouring rain didn’t deter people from coming out (haha) in hoards to watch this year. Some of the drag queens are themed (Disney princesses) while some are just scantily clad but all of them are ready to run when the time comes. You should get there early (the race starts at 9 so by early I mean…7?) if you want a prime spot but getting there at 8:30 is fine by me.

Did you miss it again this year? I finally made it and I’m still impressed! It was the Tuesday before Halloween, and all through 17^th street and Church Street, the drag queens paraded with care… They do race, but mostly they parade, swirl and preen. One night of glory! Like rare butterflies or birds of paradise, the crowds throng and swarm around, chasing with digital cameras, long before and after the five minute race. The drag queens are more than happy to pose for photos, and I can’t quite believe how good natured everyone was. I mean EVERYONE was in a good mood, despite the pushing and the crowds. It was a giant fiesta! A street party! I LOVED it! What fun!

This ridonkulously fun drag race is held annually the Tuesday before Halloween, on 17^th Street NW, between Church and R Streets.
The 2006 race featured drag queen versions of Britney (accidentally dropping her infant (doll), with K-​Fed in tow), Condoleezza Rice (and her security detail complete with earpieces and shades), the lovely hosts of the View, and the suitcase ladies from Deal or No Deal (I liked watching them flirt with the DC cops who were there for crowd control). On 17^th and R, I overheard a spectator jokingly ask two very burly, hairy DC cops, «Why didn’t YOU guys come in drag?» Without missing a beat, the cop replied, «We’re women.»
Get there early to stake out a spot — it gets crazy crowded even when it’s raining or near-​freezing. The race itself is over in a matter of seconds, but the real fun is in watching the ladies parade (sashay?) beforehand. Local politicians also show up to shake spectators’ hands (esp. in election years). Head for one of the 17^th Street bars after the race — festivities continue well into the evening. For all you Unilocalers who moved here from San Francisco, this event will really remind you of home.
Update: Highlights of the 2007 race included Ugly Betty and Sen. Wide Stance (complete with his own toilet).

Completely redefines the term Drag Race.
The low 40’s, the wind-​chill, it didn’t matter. Everyone was packed in along the sidewalks, cheering on their favorites (props for Team Britney). The whole thing really makes you a little homesick (for San Francisco).
Partying afterward at Cobalt was a blast too. I’ll post pictures from the bar when those nice «men» in uniform e-​mail them to us later today. Wild.
Just like Direct to Consumer Advertised Drugs and «those who are pregnant or may become pregnant», not really recommended for those who are both straight and faint-​of-​heart.