The Sac Queens Agenda July 16–22

Sac Queens—

Ten weeks ago this newsletter was 30 people who mostly felt sorry for us. Today it is 272 of you, opening at a 73% clip. For scale, most new, local newsletters would trade a kidney for half that number, and our email platform keeps flagging the rate like it suspects we are cheating (we’re not). Four people have unsubscribed in the entire run. We think about them sometimes. We hope they are well.

Our last reader poll came back 19 "loved it" to 1 "not for me." A 95% approval rating, which is higher than any politician, any pope, and every group chat you are in (if they had approval ratings). To our one holdout, wherever and whoever you are—we respect the honesty, and we are coming for that last vote. No pressure.

New this week: Become Our Sugar Daddy. Enough of you cornered Thomas and I asking how to bankroll this thing that we made it official. It is exactly what it sounds like: a way to financially support Sac Queens. And half of every dollar goes straight into an end-of-year holiday party with all of you invited. Location and details TBD (it’s only July people). You wanted to put your money where your community is. Now here’s the link to apply. Become Sac Queen’s Sugar Daddy 😘.

Two more quick things that actually help us grow.

First, forward this to someone who should be reading it. Better yet, use your personal referral link at the bottom of this email. Refer enough friends and there are Sip & Slay wine glasses in it for you.

Second, a public service announcement (PSA), because a few of you signed up and then swore we ghosted you. We didn’t. Here is the deal. Sign up directly on sacqueens.com and you are in, automatically, done. But if you join through someone's referral link, the platform makes you confirm through a follow-up email first. That is their way of stopping people from inventing 40 fake friends to speed-run the wine glasses and cork stoppers. So if someone you referred says the newsletter never showed up, tell them to dig out that confirmation email and click it. No click, no newsletter, no glassware, no fun.

We love learning about you. So…

Okay, let's get into it.

July 16 – July 22.

Faces Thursday: Dance Party & Karaoke
Thu, July 16, 9 PM, Faces Nightclub (2000 K St)
The biggest dance floor in Lavender Heights opens the week with its Thursday dance party and karaoke. Consider it a rehearsal for the weekend. Read more

Karaoke Night with Lisa Orrell
Thur, July 16, Sacramento
Third Thursday means Lisa Orrell is back on the mic and handing it to you. Pick a song you can actually hit, or don't, the room is forgiving either way. Read more

Karaoke Hosted by LKWE
Thur, July 16, Radclyffe’s (1330 H St)
Sac’s lesbian bar hands the mic to LKW for a night of karaoke. Belt one out or nurse a drink and judge in peace, both are honored traditions here. Read more

Emo Beach Party
Thur, July 16, Badlands (2003 K St)
Badlands throws an Emo Beach Party, the oxymoron you didn’t know you needed. Dust off the eyeliner, bring the flip-flops, and cry to the good cry to the good songs on a dance floor instead of alone. Read more

Fridays Are a Drag
Fri, July 17, 8 PM, Badlands (2003 K St)
Hosted by Suzette Veneti and Apple Adams. Show at 8, dancing until your feet file a complaint. Read more

Only Baddies
Fri, July 17, Badlands (2003 K St)
Only Baddies returns, and the guest list is a self-selecting situation. Dress like the name is a dress code, because functionally it is. Read more

Strap UP
Fri, July 17, The Bolt (2575 Boxwood St)
The Bolt hosts Strap UP, a gear-forward night for the harness-and-attitude crowd. The dress code is technically a suggestion, but read the room. Read more

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Watch Party
Fri, July 17, Faces Nightclub (2000 K St)
Faces points every screen at the newest All Stars episode, best experienced in a room that gasps and claps on cue. Lip-sync commentary encouraged. Read more

Grizzlies Beer Bust
Sat, July 18, 2 PM, The Bolt Bar (2560 Boxwood St)
SacCity Grizzlies host an all-you-can-drink beer bust to raise funds for the 2026 Gay Softball World Series in Columbus, Ohio. $8.25 buy-in, $1 refills, jello shots, and raffles — come out, drink up, and support Pride. Read more

Sacramento FrontRunners & FrontWalkers
Sat, July 18 (9 AM), plus Mon July 20 and Wed July 22 (6:30 PM)
Three chances this week to run, walk, and gossip your way through Sacramento: a 5-mile Saturday loop from Guy West Bridge, then 3-mile Monday and Wednesday evenings around Curtis Park and McKinley Park. The coffee after is the real event. Read more

Sac Gay Men's Picnic at McKinley Park
Sat, July 18, 12–4 PM, McKinley Park (601 Alhambra Blvd)
Shaded tables, two grills going, and a potluck that lives or dies on the sign-up sheet: the Sacramento Gay Men's Events group takes space GA2, so claim a dish on PerfectPotluck (coordinator Bennett) and roll up. Members are gay and bi men, but bring whoever you like. Read more

Fluff, with Manni Peddi!
Sat, July 18, seating 6:30 PM, Roscoe's upstairs (2007 K St)
Dinner, drinks, and Manni Peddi holding court with the cast upstairs at Roscoe's. It starts civilized, seating at 6:30, and stays that way exactly until the first number. Read more

Noche Caliente
Sat, July 18, Badlands (2003 K St)
Badlands turns up the heat with Noche Caliente, reggaeton and Latin beats until the windows fog. Bring your hips and a backup shirt. Read more

BLUFSF Social Dinner
Sat, July 18, Chicago Fire (2416 J St)
The Bay Area leather and gear crew gathers for a proper sit-down dinner at Chicago Fire, good food before a big weekend of events. Tickets $35, advance purchase. Read more

Pretty Little Freak Show Cabaret
Sat, July 18, Opera House Saloon (411 Lincoln Street Roseville)
Not a strictly queer night, but a burlesque and variety cabaret built for freaks of every persuasion. Expect glitter, nerve, and a few things you can't unsee. Read more

Roscoe's Drag Brunch
Sun, July 19, 10:30 AM or 1:30 PM, Roscoe's (upstairs)
The Sunday institution: rotating queens, a full menu, and $18 bottomless mimosas with an entree. Two seatings, and tickets close an hour before showtime, so don't leisurely-brunch your way out of a seat. Read more

Queer Crafternoon
Sun, July 19, 1–3 PM, Lavender Library (1414 21st St)
The library's first-and-third-Sunday craft social. Bring a project, borrow some supplies, and make something with your hands for once. Read more

The Darling Clementines Burlesque & Drag Show
Sun, July 19, 6 PM, Harlow's (2708 J St)
Sacramento's fiercest queer cabaret brings the region's best drag and burlesque to the Harlow's stage, equal parts glam and grit. Buy the ticket, take the ride. Read more

RuPaul's Drag Race: Aura Mayari
Sun, July 19, meet & greet 8 PM, show 9 PM, Faces Nightclub (2000 K St)
Season 15's Aura Mayari touches down on K Street, meet and greet at 8 and the show at 9. Faces has booked so many Drag Race girls this month it may as well install a stage door. Read more

FrontRunners River Float
Sun, July 19, Sacramento
The run crew swaps sneakers for inner tubes and lets the river do the cardio. A slow, sunny drift with your favorite queer athletes, meetup details on their group page. Read more

Sunday Tea Dance
Sun, July 19, Badlands (2003 K St)
Disco and house on the Badlands patio while the sun clocks out. The classic way to stretch the weekend one dance longer than you meant to. Read more

Trivia Mondays
Mon, July 20, 6:30–8:30 PM, Teneral Cellars (1050 20th St)
Free trivia and a good pour at Sac's queer-owned, women-owned wine lounge. Bring the friend who somehow knows every one-hit wonder from 1997. Read more

Monday Showcase
Mon, July 20, 9 PM, Badlands (2003 K St)
Free entry, 30% off cocktails all night, and a stage full of up-and-coming queens. See them now, brag about it when they're headlining. Read more

Anti=Mondays
Mon, July 20, 7–11 PM, Faces Nightclub (2000 K St)
88 throws a free early party designed to undo the Monday of it all. Wrapped by 11, home before you turn into a pumpkin. Read more

Pickled Pink Pickleball
Tue, July 21, 5 PM (4 PM for early birds), Southside Park courts
Tuesday's queer pickleball standing date at Southside Park, courts booked through the PlayTime Scheduler app. Sunscreen, water, and the trash talk are all mandatory. Read more

Rainbow Chamber July Lunch & Networking
Tue, July 21, 11:30 AM–1 PM, 6301 S Street
The Sacramento Rainbow Chamber's monthly lunch, an afternoon of good food, real connections, and new business. Tickets $25, register through the Chamber. Read more

Music Bingo
Tue, July 21, Teneral Cellars (1050 20th St)
Bingo, but make it a playlist: Teneral's first-and-third-Tuesday music bingo at Sac's queer-owned wine lounge, where a good ear beats a lucky card. Read more

The Trivia Show
Wed, July 22, 8 PM, The Depot (2001 K St)
Midweek trivia at The Depot, teams up to six, prizes up top, drink specials rotating all night. Recruit your smartest friends and prepare to disagree loudly about a movie question. Read more

Piano Bar & Karaoke
Wed, July 22, piano 6–9 PM, karaoke 9 PM–close, Roscoe's downstairs
Two acts downstairs at Roscoe's: piano bar until 9, then karaoke takes the room. Sip through the standards, then commit fully to something with a key change. Read more

¡Besos!
Wed, July 22, Badlands (2003 K St)
Latin drag, bilingual and loud, besos para todos. It's a Wednesday, but ¡Besos! has never once respected a work night. Read more

Movie Night at The Bolt
Thu, July 23, 9 PM, The Bolt (2575 Boxwood St)
The Bolt trades the dance floor for a screen and a comfortable slouch. Low-key, more couch than club, bring someone to share the popcorn with. Read more

Rainbow Chamber Lunch & Learn: Password Management
Thu, July 23, Sacramento
The Chamber's midweek professional-development session, this month on locking down your passwords before someone else does. Practical, free-ish, and worth the lunch hour. Read more

Girls Gone Wild: Sapphic Birthday Party for Leos
Thu, July 23, Faces Nightclub (2000 K St)
Leo season gets its own sapphic blowout at Faces, because of course the Leos demanded a party. Girls Gone Wild, fire-sign edition, roar accordingly. Read more

TransFemme & Non-Binary Support Group
Thu, July 23, Gender Health Center (3823 V St)
A peer support group for transfemme and non-binary folks at the Gender Health Center. A steady, affirming place to land midweek, no performance required. Read more

California State Fair Pride Day
Sat, July 25, 12–6 PM, Cal Expo
The Rainbow Chamber programs a full queer day at the fair: a Sacramento Sirens cheer set, the Gay Men's Chorus, a wine garden meet-up, Drag Queen Bingo, and a disco dance party. Gates for the fair opened the 17th, so you have a week to pace your funnel cake. Read more

Pillow Princess Day Party
Sat, July 25, 1–5 PM, Roscoe's upstairs (2007 K St)
Pillow Princess goes daytime for the first time: DJ GrlBoi on the decks, pop-up drag and burlesque from Dolly Romano, Billy Freak, and Rosie Labelle, plus vendors, go-go dancers, tarot, and a glitter hair bar. Denim and sparkle, a sapphic afternoon. 21+. Read more

The Dore Party (not Sacramento)
Sat, July 25, Mr. S Leather (San Francisco)
Worth the drive: the legendary Dore Alley weekend kicks off at Mr. S Leather in SF. Leather, gear, and the Bay's rowdiest street party if that is your love language. Read more

Summerween, presented by Nevermore Gorelesque
Sat, July 25, 9 PM, Radclyffe's (1330 H St)
Nevermore Gorelesque drags Halloween into July with a spooky burlesque night at Sac's lesbian bar. Fake blood in summer just hits different. Read more

lolgbt+ Presents: #STFU!
Sat, July 25, 9 PM, STAB! Comedy Theater (1710 Broadway)
Drag lip-syncs and stand-up crammed onto one stage by the lolgbt+ crew. Part comedy show, part variety chaos, fully queer. Read more

RuPaul's Drag Race: Jasmine Kennedie
Sun, July 26, meet & greet 8 PM, show 9 PM, Faces Nightclub (2000 K St)
Season 14's Jasmine Kennedie caps a month of nonstop Drag Race at Faces, meet and greet at 8, show at 9. Fourth queen in four weeks: whoever books this club deserves a raise. Read more

Hotties & Hops
Sun, July 26, 3 PM, At Ease Brewing Company
A come-as-you-are queer craft social at At Ease Brewing: bring your own project or borrow supplies, and let the conversation flow while your hands are busy. Read more

Summer Camp is a Drag
Fri, July 31, Sacramento LGBT Community Center (1219 S St)
The Center goes full sleepaway camp with a drag twist: games, crafts, and queens where the camp counselor is in a wig. Friendship bracelets strongly encouraged. Read more

BLUFSF CUERO
Sat, Aug 1, 9 PM, The Bolt (2575 Boxwood St)
The Bay Area leather and gear club rolls CUERO into The Bolt for a first-Saturday gear night, with a raffle auction feeding local LGBTQ+ nonprofits. Harnesses optional, good cause not. Read more

Sunday Drag Brunch
Sun, Aug 2, Roscoe's (upstairs, 2007 K St)
The Sunday drag brunch tradition rolls into August at Roscoe's, mimosas bottomless and queens relentless. Book ahead, seatings close before the show starts. Read more

Dugout Divas: Uncorked, Lakeside Edition
Sat, Aug 8, 5:30–9 PM, private lakeside residence (Sacramento)
Sunset by the water, a blind wine tasting, a tri-tip and baked chicken dinner, and a silent auction, all raising money to send local LGBTQ athletes to compete. Tickets from $75 early bird, buy ahead since there's no door sale. Read more

The Velvet Room: A Drag Cabaret & Dinner Show
Sat, Aug 8, seating 6:30 PM, Roscoe’s upstairs (2007 K St)
Drag Roscoe’s second-Saturday cabaret returns upstairs, drag and dinner in one sitting. Dinner theater, but make it drag. Tickets required. Read more

Makeup and Mimosas: Drag Brunch with a Punch
Sun, Aug 9, 12 PM, Punch Line Sacramento (2100 Arden Way)
Drag brunch at a comedy club, which means the performances hit as hard as the mimosas. Noon start, tickets $21 to $34, Sunday handled. Read more

NorCal AIDS Cycle Beneficiary Celebration
Sat, Aug 15, 6 PM, Bear & Crown (Old Sacramento)
The 2026 ride's proceeds get handed to local beneficiaries on the Bear & Crown back patio. Come see where the miles went, food and drinks for sale, an RSVP is appreciated. Read more

The Open Book: Remembered
Sat, Aug 15, Sacramento (Sac Gay Men's Events)
The Sacramento Gay Men's group gathers for The Open Book: Remembered, a reflective community get-together. Details and RSVP on their Meetup. Read more

Dashin' Down the Delta
Sun, Aug 16, 8 AM, Scott's Seafood on the River (Sacramento)
A costumes-first run-walk where nobody checks your split times but everyone judges your wig. Rally a themed crew, coordinate the shirts, and sign up while spots last. Read more

Out on the Mountain
Fri, Aug 21, 6 PM–12 AM, Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia)
File this under road trip: a private LGBTQ takeover of Six Flags Magic Mountain, coasters in the dark, drag from April Carrión and Jessica Wild, and dance parties until midnight. Tickets from $74, online only, none at the gate. Read more

Hairspray with Ginger Minj
Aug 21–30, UC Davis Health Pavilion (Broadway Sacramento)
Ginger Minj takes on Edna Turnblad in Broadway Sacramento's Hairspray, a nine-day run of towering hair and even taller notes. Grab a night before word gets out. Read more

Sacramento Rainbow Festival
Sun, Sep 6, 11 AM–10 PM, Lavender Heights (20th and K)
Forty years running, the Labor Day weekend blowout takes over Lavender Heights with a Retro Rainbow theme, multiple stages, vendors, and food. Headliners are still under wraps, early-bird tickets around $18. Read more

Boas & Bow Ties Gala (save the date)
Thu, Oct 22, 6–9 PM, Sacramento
The Rainbow Chamber's annual black-tie-with-a-twist gala, where the bow ties are sharp and the boas are sharper. Months out, but block the evening now. Read more

Makeup & Mimosas: Drag Brunch with a Punch
Sun, Sep 13, Punch Line Sacramento (2100 Arden Way)
Drag brunch at a comedy club, where the performances hit as hard as the mimosas. Full-tilt queens before your Sunday even warms up. Read more

Sacramento Gay Men's Chorus: Holiday Hits with a Splash of Sass
Sat, Dec 5, Sacramento Memorial Auditorium (1515 J St)
SGMC wraps the year at the Memorial Auditorium with a holiday concert exactly as campy as its title swears. Way out, but the best seats never last. Read more

Badlands

Naming Badlands our queer-owned pick is a little like naming water as wet. You know Badlands. You've shut it down, lost a shoe on that dance floor, and called it a great night. But the ownership story earns the slot: TJ Bruce turned a single Midtown club into a nine-spot nightlife empire that now stretches across California, Oregon, and Washington — reaching cities like Fresno, Seattle, and Portland — all rooted right here in Sacramento.

From the inbox. Reader submissions, thank-yous, celebrations, or anything fun or noteworthy. Lightly edited for clarity, not for vibe. If you have a shoutout, just reply to this with your submission for next week’s newsletter!

Three things before we go:

See you next Thursday.

— Thomas & Tom