Vanderhoof Drag Queen Sparrow Valentine (left) says the community's first ever drag show was a huge success. Photo Courtesy Kelly Lytle

By Tommy Osborne

Vanderhoof Pride

First ever Vanderhoof drag show sees strong community support

Jun 29, 2024 | 7:30 PM

VANDERHOOF – Vanderhoof’s first ever drag queen performance on June 29 “could not have gone any better,” according to local drag queen Sparrow Valentine.

“It was such a beautiful event, so much awesomeness to see the community come out and support it in such a great big way,” she said.

Beyond the drag performance itself, Sparrow Valentine says the event had a wide variety of activities like face painting, games, local vendors, children’s story time where she read to kids, and more.

“I did a bit of photos with the families, and there was a lot of kids and their parents that came over. And two little girls made me a pencil case each, so it was very beautiful. It looked like the kids loved it,” she said.

Beyond the day being a chance for both family-friendly fun and a celebration of pride, Sparrow Valentine added the significance of Vanderhoof’s first drag performance is quite large, as events like drag shows can help other people in the community feel comfortable and safe expressing themselves.

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Vanderhoof Pride

First ever Vanderhoof drag show sees strong community support

Jun 30, 2024

“Having family-friendly events where young kids can see people expressing themselves in a respectful, creative, artistic way will help them create the life that they want to have in the future and can show them, the community, that anyone can do it. It’s not just for people on TV. I grew up in Vanderhoof, I’m from here, I live here, so it just shows that anyone can do it, that nothing is going to hold them back except for themselves,” she said.

“Hopefully I inspired some people today and next year hopefully we have some more performers on the stage,” she added.

With the event drawing an incredibly strong community response, it’s likely drag performances will return as part of Vanderhoof’s annual pride events.

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