Midwest drag queens Omega and Pineapple Honeydew are back again for the next Pokémon drag event on Saturday, Jan. 10. Now in its second year, the category is: Shiny Edition.
“I absolutely love Pokémon and have since I was very young,” Omega told Upbeat Nonsense. In 2024, she won Cleveland Scene’s Drag Queen of the Year Award. Gotta Catch ‘Em All features 11 performers, including drag queens, kings and burlesque artists.
For more than a year, Omega has hosted the event at No Class. These shows typically happen every three months, and this is her fifth time hosting. She also hosts a weekly LGBTQ+ Trivia Tuesdays at Twist Social Club.
“Pokémon has a very diverse audience, including queer and neurodivergent people, two communities I am a part of and am very proud to provide this for!”
Nearly all the performers are from Cleveland, including: Ryder Slowly, Cloudy, Marquis Gaylord, Radius Linze, Vicea Verse, Rosie Quartz, Homer E. Roddick and Angel. Evelyn Everything is from Cincinnati and Pineapple Honeydew is based in Pittsburgh.
In addition to the live performances, you can check out the queer-focused Pokémon vendors or play games on vintage Nintendo consoles. There will also be a costume contest, with themed prizes going to the winners who dress in their gym leader best.
Pokémon celebrates its 30 anniversary later this year. A few days ago, the Pokémon Company released a new logo featuring the adorable “Fat Pikachu” to commemorate the milestone. The official anniversary is Feb. 27.
Tickets are $10 (plus $5 if you’re under 21 years old) and can only be purchased at the venue. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m at No Class in Cleveland.