Montréal hosts drag culture convention
This article was published on September 27, 2023.
Local, national and international drag artists will be in Montréal for Rendez-vous de la drag, the first predominantly Francophone drag culture convention, which will take place October 28 and 29 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal.
Inspired by RuPaul’s DragCon, the Rendez-vous de la drag is comparable to the popular DragCon in Los Angeles and London but will be different due to its local Montréal flavour, making the Rendez-vous the first predominantly Francophone event of its type in Canada.
The all-ages Rendez-vous will be attended by more than 75 local, national and international drag artists including Ra’Jah O’hara (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Athena Sorgelikis (Drag Race Belgique), Montréal drag legend and television star Barbada, Drag Couenne (Drag Race Belgique), Kam Hugh (Drag Race France), La Big Bertha (Drag Race France), Lolita Banana (Drag Race Mexico / Drag Race France), Soa de Muse (Drag Race France), and Lady BOom BoOm, Kiara, Océane Aqua-Black, Adriana and Icesis Couture, all from Canada’s Drag Race.
Other participants include Mona de Grenoble (who won Big Brother Célébrités season 3), Pétula Claque, Sasha Baga, Crystal Starz, Miss Butterfly, Velma Jones, Ciatha Night, and drag kings Rock Bière and RV Métal.
Two Montréalers are the event’s spokespersons, Québec drag icon Michel Dorion, as well as Drag Race Belgique hostess and Canada’s Drag Race season 1 finalist Rita Baga.
“With the Rendez-vous de la drag, we hope to create a space where the public and the artists can meet each other and take the time to get to know each other better, to discover each other,” says Michel Dorion. “The public’s experience is central to the event. The goal is to give everyone a chance to learn more about this diversified world, whether through the shows, workshops, or conversations with the artists on site.”
The Rendez-vous de la drag has scheduled two days of shows, thematic workshops and conferences about a wide variety of subjects including the art of make-up, costumes and wigs. There will also be daily parades featuring participating drag artists.
“The art of drag has fascinated audiences all over the world for years,” says Rita Baga. “Inspired by the successful American, British, and Australian drag conventions, we got the idea of creating an annual happening that would bring drag artists close to their audiences and fans so they can learn more about the drag world in a predominantly Francophone environment. A first that already fills us with pride!”
The Rendez-vous de la drag will be held at the Palais des congrès de Montréal on October 28 and 29.
Tickets and VIP packages are available via www.rendezvousdeladrag.ca/en.
For drag fans looking for more, Montréal is one of the drag capitals of the world. Located in The Village, drag icon Mado Lamotte’s Cabaret Mado and Michel Dorion’s classic Bar Le Cocktail both book the best drag performers in the city nightly. Both venues are also two of the most popular nightclubs in The Village.
Richard Burnett
Richard “Bugs” Burnett is a Canadian freelance writer, editor, journalist, blogger and columnist for alt-weeklies, mainstream and LGBTQ+ publications. Bugs also knows Montréal like a drag queen knows a cosmetics counter.