Submitted by Thousand Acre Cider House
Thousand Acre Cider House, located at 109 Grand Avenue in downtown Bellingham, will host weekly celebrations of LBGTQ+ culture and progress through weekly events with Betty Desire, a local community activist and drag queen, beginning Thursday June 3rd.
For the first three Thursdays of June (3, 10, and 17), Betty Desire will lead a drag variety show at Thousand Acre’s outdoor patio from 8-9 PM. On Thursday June 24th, the venue and Betty will host a panel discussion exploring Bellingham’s gay culture history and obstacles for inclusion and acceptance. The panel discussion date was chosen due to proximity of June 28, the anniversary of the first Pride march held in New York City in 1970.
Live singing, lip syncing, witty humor, and plenty of rainbows and glitter will be featured at the outdoor drag shows named “Queens of Cider with Betty Desire”. A more intimate, indoor environment will set the tone for June 24th’s panel discussion named “Queer Through the Years.” Guests are encouraged to reserve tables in advance for all events as space is limited to comply with current COVID-19 capacity and distance requirements. All proceeds raised from reservations and cover charge benefit the performers and Whatcom’s PFLAG Chapter, a non-profit that provides confidential peer support, education, and advocacy to LGBTQ+ people, their parents and families, and allies.
“After meeting Betty and listening to her perspectives from nearly 25 years of performing and advocating for LBGTQ+ rights, I knew we had to collaborate and celebrate together,” says Thousand Acre’s co-owner Jenny Hagemann. “Planning this event series with Betty has been a shining light in an otherwise dark year,” she adds.
“I’m thrilled to have another venue in Bellingham proud to host and share my story and performance with,” says Betty Desire.
Customers are encouraged to pre-book tables for all performances online athttps://www.thousandacreciderhouse.com/. Any remaining tables will be first come, first served. The venue is 21+ only.
About Thousand Acre Cider House
Thousand Acre Cider House is a place for all to discover and enjoy cider.
There’s always something new to try with a rotating tap list of 24 craft ciders, cider cocktails, wine, and beer. Our bottle shop adds 200+ bottled ciders sourced from the PNW and beyond.
We are cider purveyors with a mission to guide first-time and seasoned cider drinkers alike to the perfect pour.
About Betty Desire
A tireless warrior for equality and inclusion, Betty Desire has used humor and innuendo to break down barriers and walls that divide our community. In her spare time, she has hosted a regular karaoke event at Rumor’s Cabaret, publishes The Betty Pages, Cascadia’s most inclusive alternative lifestyle tabloid, and assists every Halloween at the Lincoln Theater’s showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. From newspaper publisher and former coffee shop owner to community activist and fabulous drag queen, her life has been myriad opposites punctuated with humor, compassion, and joy.
