Henderson KY Pride's Haunted Haus of Drag guests Aurora Gozmic, left, and Sinema LaRue in red and black looks.

Aurora Gozmic, left, and Sinema LaRue. Photos via Drag Race Wiki and DragSpace.

‘They Can’t Legislate Community’: Henderson KY Pride’s Haunted Haus of Drag Returns Oct. 23

October 16, 2026/in Culture, Drag/by Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech

Henderson KY Pride is hosting its annual Halloween drag fundraiser, Haunted Haus of Drag, at the Preston Arts Center on Friday, October 23, under the theme, “Haunted Runway.”

This year’s theme combines “drag performance with horror couture” and will feature special guest Aurora Gozmic, a Chicago-based drag artist and competitor on Season 6 of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula.

Other guests include Sinema Larue, the “Desert Diva Bearded Queen 26” from Houston, Texas, and the event will be emceed by Louisville entertainer Leah Halston, known as “The Chocolate Thunder” and host of the Play Mates and Play Louisville.

Henderson KY Pride has hosted a Halloween-themed fundraiser since its launch in 2024, which at its core is focused on creating a community for LGBTQ+ people.

“Sometimes that could be the only thing we have to fall back on,” Cooper Beck, founder and executive director of Henderson KY Pride, tells Queer Kentucky. “The government can legislate us all they want, but they can’t legislate community and how we stick together and the joy that comes from community.”

Beck adds, “That’s something that is almost impossible to take away.”

The small nonprofit’s first-ever event in the summer of 2024 drew a larger-than-expected crowd, according to Beck.

The 21-year-old came up with the idea for Henderson KY Pride for a class project during his freshman year at Bellarmine University. He decided that he wanted to host a small LGBTQ+ visibility event in Henderson, which he advertised on Facebook and organized with the help of some volunteers.

“It went kind of hometown viral,” Beck says.

There was so much interest in the Facebook event that Beck decided to change it to a “mini pride” that would be held in a parking lot next to the town’s Chloe Randall Organization. To Beck’s surprise, 400 people showed up to the event.

“There was a clear hunger and need for visibility and community,” he says.

The inaugural event’s high turnout inspired Beck and the volunteers to host another event in order to meet that need for visibility, community, and connection.

Beck and his co-organizers decided to host a Halloween-themed event that October to do “something new to the community” and, again, were surprised by its popularity.

“We didn’t really know what to expect with it. It was kind of like taking a shot in the dark,” Beck says. “But we sold out.”

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More than 200 people showed up to the organization’s inaugural Halloween fundraiser, and it “instantly” became one of its most sought-after events of the year, he adds. Turnout at this year’s event is expected to be high.

Haunted Haus of Drag attendees are encouraged to dress up in costume, and there will be a Haunted Runway costume contest with prizes. The event, formerly called ‘Dragula,’ is only for adults 18 years of age and older since the production will include adult themes and content, strong language, loud music, flashing lights, and theatrical effects.

General Admission tickets are $25. Henderson KY Pride Circle members receive $10 off General Admission, bringing the member price to $15. A limited number of VIP tables have also been available, featuring reserved seating for eight guests, early admission, drink tickets, and a private VIP performance by Aurora Gozmic.

A cash bar will be available throughout the evening in partnership with Beverage Barn. Alcohol service is restricted to guests 21 and older with a valid physical ID.

All proceeds from Haunted Haus of Drag benefit Henderson KY Pride and support the nonprofit’s year-round LGBTQ+ programming, advocacy, community events, and resources.

Find out more information here.