The Week in DC LGBTQ Nightlife: Oct. 30-Nov. 8, 2026

Halloween parties, cash costume contests, and a High Heel Race photo gallery lead this week's lineup of drag, DJs, karaoke, and happy hours.

By Randy Shulman on October 29, 2026 @RandyShulman

39th Annual High Heel Race - Photo: Judy Schloss/Metro Weekly — 39th Annual High Heel Race – Photo: Judy Schloss/Metro Weekly

Here’s what’s happening at select LGBTQ bars in D.C. from Friday, Oct. 30 through Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026 — including Halloween parties, cash costume contests, DJs, drag, and happy hours.

This week’s featured Scene: 39th Annual 17th Street High Heel Race. Photographs by Judy Schloss.

Listings are provided by participating venues and are subject to change. Metro Weekly makes every effort to ensure accuracy but is not responsible for errors or schedule changes. Check with venues for the latest details.

Friday, Oct. 30

A League of Her Own
Local DJs and dancing • 21+ • No Cover

Bunker
Macabra, 10pm-3am • Tribal House and Circuit with DJ Filipe Guerra (Brazil) • $6 drinks, 10-11pm • 21+ • $20 Cover starting at 11pm

Crush Dance Bar
Open 5pm-3am • Happy Hour until 8pm: $6 well drinks; $9 Crushes, Tito’s, pitchers of beer and NUTRL • DJs Keenan Orr and Sidekick, 10pm • $3 vodka, 10-11pm • $500 cash costume contest, hosted by Venetian, 11pm • 21+ • No Cover

Green Lantern
Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $3.50 rail drinks and domestic beer; discounts on premium drinks and draft beer • Hardcore Halloween with DJ Jason Royce • Costume contest at midnight: $500 cash first prize; $200 cash second prize • 21+ • No Cover

JR.’s Bar
Open 4pm-late • Weekday Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $5 rail drinks • Halloween and Drag, Part 1: Cosplay drag show, hosted by Sirene Noir Sidora Jackson, 10pm • 21+ • No Cover

Number Nine
Open 4pm • 2-for-1 Happy Hour: order the first drink before 8pm and receive the second before 9pm • Halloween Party with VJs BacK2bACk • 21+ • No Cover

Pitchers
Five bars, video games, DJs and dancing • Food and outdoor patios • 21+ • No Cover

Trade
Open 5pm • XL Happy Hour, 5-9pm: drinks served in XL cups for the regular price; beer $5.50 • Free pizza and $8 pitchers of beer • The Jax & Evry Show, hosted by Evry Pleasure and Jaxknife Complex, 7pm • RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing, 8pm • WTF Friday presents Trick or Trade with a $500 Costume Contest and DJs WESSTHEDJ and Ed Bailey in the Shark Tank and rotating guest DJs in Trade Classic • 21+ • No Cover

Violet
Open 5pm-2am • Happy Hour, 5-8pm: $7 martinis, Manhattans and Old Fashioneds; $2 off select cocktails; $7 beers and wines • The Sisters Grimm: A Night of Horror Disney Drag with Citrine the Queen, Darcy De La Cuadra, and Tijuana Spark, 7:30pm • 21+ • No Cover

Venue details • Back to dates

Saturday, Oct. 31

A League of Her Own
Local DJs and dancing • 21+ • No Cover

Bunker
Bunker’s Freak Show, 10pm-3am • Progressive and Tech House with DJs Cake Pop! and Michael Navarro • $6 drinks, 10-11pm • 21+ • $20 Cover starting at 11pm

Crush Dance Bar
Open 2pm-3am • DJs Alex Love and Norm Hill, 10pm • $3 vodka, 10-11pm • $1,000 Cash Costume Contest, hosted by Lena Lett and Tula, 10pm • 21+ • No Cover

Green Lantern
Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $3.50 rail drinks and domestic beer; discounts on premium drinks and draft beer • Fright Night — ONYX Bar Night/Leather Halloween, 10pm • 21+ • $10 Cover upstairs

JR.’s Bar
Open 1pm-late • Showtunes Replay, 5-9pm • Halloween and Drag, Part 2: Scorpiween Drag Show, 10pm • 21+ • No Cover

Number Nine
Open 2pm • 2-for-1 Happy Hour: order the first drink before 7pm and receive the second before 8pm • Latin Happy Hour upstairs, hosted by Mari Con Carne with DJ Alvamp, 4-9pm • Halloween Party with DJ KCB • 21+ • No Cover

Pitchers
Five bars, video games and outdoor patios • Kitchen open late until 1:30am • Local DJs • 21+ • No Cover

Trade
Open 2pm • XL Happy Hour, 2-9pm: drinks served in XL cups for the regular price; beer $5.50 • Clash Drag Show, hosted by Tatianna and Crimsyn with rotating performers, 11pm • Sharkula Halloween Party with a $500 Costume Contest in the Shark Tank, 9pm • 21+ • No Cover

Violet
Open 2pm-2am • Karaoke Costume Contest, hosted by Echinacea Monroe, 9pm • Competition, 10pm • 21+ • No Cover

Venue details • Back to dates

Sunday, Nov. 1

Bunker
Unholy, 3:30am-8am • Circuit and Tribal House with DJ Dani Toro (Spain) • 21+ • $30 Cover • Dia de las Muertas, 9pm-2am • Latin music with DJ Alex Mendez • $6 drinks, 9-10pm • $8 Cuba Libres all night • $8 Casamigos Spicy Margaritas • 21+ • $10 Cover

Crush Dance Bar
Open 2pm-1am • Hot Dog Sunday with DJ Matt Bailer • $250 Best Hot Dog Costume Contest, 6pm • $9 Crushes and Tito’s all day • Free hot dogs while supplies last • 21+ • No Cover

Green Lantern
Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $3.50 rail drinks and domestic beer; discounts on premium drinks and draft beer • Karaoke with Kevin, 9:30pm • Shirtless upstairs, 10-11pm • 21+ • No Cover

JR.’s Bar
Open 1pm-late • Sunday Funday: $4 Skyy and $4 Truly draft all day • Sunday Scaries drag show, hosted by Baphomette, 7pm • 21+ • No Cover

Number Nine
Open 2pm • 2-for-1 Happy Hour: order the first drink before 7pm and receive the second before 8pm • 21+ • No Cover

Pitchers
Showtunes, 2-8pm • Televised sports • $13 pizza and drink combo • $35 Suncruiser buckets • 21+ • No Cover

Trade
Open 2pm • XL Happy Hour, 2-9pm: drinks served in XL cups for the regular price; beer $5.50 • 21+ • No Cover

Violet
Open 2pm-midnight • 21+ • No Cover

Venue details • Back to dates

Monday, Nov. 2

Green Lantern
Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $3.50 rail drinks and domestic beer; discounts on premium drinks and draft beer • Karaoke with Marcus, 9:30pm • 21+ • No Cover

JR.’s Bar
Open 2pm-late • Weekday Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $5 rail drinks • Musical Mondays Showtunes, 9pm-late • $4 draft beer and $4 Truly draft • 21+ • No Cover

Number Nine
Open 5pm • 2-for-1 Happy Hour: order the first drink before 7pm and receive the second before 8pm • 21+ • No Cover

Trade
Open 5pm • XL Happy Hour, 5-9pm: drinks served in XL cups for the regular price; beer $5.50 • Gay Ass Trivia with host Tammy Kay • 21+ • No Cover

Violet
Open 5-11pm • Happy Hour, 5-8pm: $7 martinis, Manhattans and Old Fashioneds; $2 off select cocktails; $7 beers and wines • 21+ • No Cover

Venue details • Back to dates

Tuesday, Nov. 3

Crush Dance Bar
Open 5pm-midnight • All-day Happy Hour: $6 well drinks; $9 Crushes, Tito’s, pitchers of beer and NUTRL • Trivia hosted by J Street Trivia, 7pm • 21+ • No Cover

Green Lantern
Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $3.50 rail drinks and domestic beer; discounts on premium drinks and draft beer • Latin Karaoke with Flavio, 9:30pm • 21+ • No Cover

JR.’s Bar
Open 4pm-late • Weekday Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $5 rail drinks • Flashback retro music with Jason Royce and free Goldilocks Trivia, 8pm-late • $9 specialty cocktails; $4 draft beer and draft Truly • 21+ • No Cover

Number Nine
Open 5pm • 2-for-1 Happy Hour: order the first drink before 7pm and receive the second before 8pm • 21+ • No Cover

Trade
Open 5pm • XL Happy Hour, 5-9pm: drinks served in XL cups for the regular price; beer $5.50 • Dragula Viewing Party, 8pm • 21+ • No Cover

Violet
Open 5-11pm • Happy Hour, 5-8pm: $7 martinis, Manhattans and Old Fashioneds; $2 off select cocktails; $7 beers and wines • The Echinacea Monroe Show, 7pm • 21+ • No Cover

Venue details • Back to dates

39th Annual High Heel Race - Photo: Todd Franson/Metro Weekly — 39th Annual High Heel Race – Photo: Todd Franson/Metro Weekly

Wednesday, Nov. 4

Crush Dance Bar
Open 5pm-midnight • Happy Hour until 8pm: $6 well drinks; $9 Crushes, Tito’s, pitchers of beer and NUTRL • Drag Bingo with Lena Lett and Tula • Music by DJ Jason Royce, 8pm • $6 well drinks, 10pm-midnight • 21+ • No Cover

Green Lantern
Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $3.50 rail drinks and domestic beer; discounts on premium drinks and draft beer • Karaoke with Jonathon, 9:30pm • 21+ • No Cover

JR.’s Bar
Open 4pm-late • Weekday Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $5 rail drinks • Survivor Season 51 watch party, 8pm • 21+ • No Cover

Number Nine
Open 5pm • 2-for-1 Happy Hour: order the first drink before 7pm and receive the second before 8pm • 21+ • No Cover

Pitchers
Half-price burger night • Televised sports • 21+ • No Cover

Trade
Open 5pm • XL Happy Hour, 5-9pm: drinks served in XL cups for the regular price; beer $5.50 • Chaotica Improv Drag Show • Mx. Trade Competition • 21+ • No Cover

Violet
Open 5-11pm • Happy Hour, 5-8pm: $7 martinis, Manhattans and Old Fashioneds; $2 off select cocktails; $7 beers and wines • 21+ • No Cover

Venue details • Back to dates

Thursday, Nov. 5

A League of Her Own
LezzBingo with prizes and video games • Drag show afterward • 21+ • No Cover

Crush Dance Bar
Open 5pm-2am • Happy Hour until 8pm: $6 well drinks; $9 Crushes, Tito’s, pitchers of beer and NUTRL • DJ Majr, 10pm • Throwdown Thursday Drag Show hosted by Venetian, 10:30pm • $3 vodka, 10-11pm; $6 well drinks, 10pm-midnight • 21+ • No Cover

Green Lantern
Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $3.50 rail drinks and domestic beer; discounts on premium drinks and draft beer • Shirtless patrons drink free, 10-11pm • Free drink for patrons in underwear, midnight-12:30am • 21+ • No Cover

JR.’s Bar
Open 4pm-late • Weekday Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $5 rail drinks • 21+ • No Cover

Number Nine
Open 5pm • 2-for-1 Happy Hour: order the first drink before 7pm and receive the second before 8pm • 21+ • No Cover

Pitchers
Thirst Trap Thursday drag show with Cake Pop • Trivia with Crimsyn • Gaming, food, and outdoor patios • 21+ • No Cover

Trade
Open 5pm • XL Happy Hour, 5-9pm: drinks served in XL cups for the regular price; beer $5.50 • Sleaze Dance Party • 21+ • No Cover

Violet
Open 5-11pm • Happy Hour, 5-8pm: $7 martinis, Manhattans and Old Fashioneds; $2 off select cocktails; $7 beers and wines • 21+ • No Cover

Venue details • Back to dates

Friday, Nov. 6

A League of Her Own
Local DJs and dancing • 21+ • No Cover

Crush Dance Bar
Open 5pm-3am • Happy Hour until 8pm: $6 well drinks; $9 Crushes, Tito’s, pitchers of beer and NUTRL • DJs Majr and Keenan Orr, 10pm • $3 vodka, 10-11pm • 21+ • No Cover

Green Lantern
Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $3.50 rail drinks and domestic beer; discounts on premium drinks and draft beer • Davon Hamilton’s First Friday Underwear Party with DJ Honey, 10pm • 21+ • $10 Cover

JR.’s Bar
Open 4pm-late • Weekday Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $5 rail drinks • Vitamin C drag show, hosted by Citrine the Queen, 10pm • 21+ • No Cover

Number Nine
Open 4pm • 2-for-1 Happy Hour: order the first drink before 8pm and receive the second before 9pm • 21+ • No Cover

Pitchers
Five bars, video games, DJs and dancing • Food and outdoor patios • 21+ • No Cover

Trade
Open 5pm • XL Happy Hour, 5-9pm: drinks served in XL cups for the regular price; beer $5.50 • Free pizza and $8 pitchers of beer • The Jax & Evry Show, hosted by Evry Pleasure and Jaxknife Complex, 7pm • RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing, 8pm • WTF Friday with DJs WESSTHEDJ and Ed Bailey in the Shark Tank and rotating guest DJs in Trade Classic • 21+ • No Cover

Violet
Open 5pm-2am • Happy Hour, 5-8pm: $7 martinis, Manhattans and Old Fashioneds; $2 off select cocktails; $7 beers and wines • 21+ • No Cover

Venue details • Back to dates

Saturday, Nov. 7

A League of Her Own
Local DJs and dancing • 21+ • No Cover

Crush Dance Bar
Open 2pm-3am • DJs Alex Love and Sidekick, 10pm • $3 vodka, 10-11pm • 21+ • No Cover

Green Lantern
Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $3.50 rail drinks and domestic beer; discounts on premium drinks and draft beer • Rewind Request with DJ Darryl Strickland, 9pm • 21+ • No Cover

JR.’s Bar
Open 1pm-late • Showtunes Replay, 5-9pm • Gay Guy Music Video Night, 9pm-late • 21+ • No Cover

Pitchers
Five bars, video games and outdoor patios • Kitchen open late until 1:30am • Local DJs • 21+ • No Cover

Trade
Open 2pm • XL Happy Hour, 2-9pm: drinks served in XL cups for the regular price; beer $5.50 • Clash Drag Show, hosted by Tatianna and Crimsyn with rotating performers, 11pm • Peach Pit Plus ’90s Dance Party • 21+ • No Cover

Violet
Open 2pm-2am • Karaoke, 9pm • 21+ • No Cover

Venue details • Back to dates

Sunday, Nov. 8

Crush Dance Bar
Open 2pm-1am • Hot Dog Sunday with DJ Matt Bailer • $9 Crushes and Tito’s all day • Free hot dogs while supplies last • 21+ • No Cover

Green Lantern
Happy Hour, 4-8pm: $3.50 rail drinks and domestic beer; discounts on premium drinks and draft beer • Karaoke with Kevin, 9:30pm • Shirtless upstairs, 10-11pm • 21+ • No Cover

JR.’s Bar
Open 1pm-late • Sunday Funday: $4 Skyy and $4 Truly draft all day • King of Drag Grand Finale Watch Party, hosted by Baphomette, 9pm • 21+ • No Cover

Number Nine
Open 2pm • 2-for-1 Happy Hour: order the first drink before 7pm and receive the second before 8pm • 21+ • No Cover

Pitchers
Showtunes, 2-8pm • Televised sports • $13 pizza and drink combo • $35 Suncruiser buckets • 21+ • No Cover

Trade
Open 2pm • XL Happy Hour, 2-9pm: drinks served in XL cups for the regular price; beer $5.50 • Kink Sunday with the men of BLUF • 21+ • No Cover

Violet
Open 2pm-midnight • 21+ • No Cover

Venue details • Back to dates