There was a time not too long ago, when drag performances—now a mainstay of Seattle’s queer scene—were kept under wraps. And when brunches, complete with singing and dancing queens dressed in dazzling drag as you sipped mimosas, weren’t a Sunday staple. 

During the 1940s and ‘50s, an era largely shaped by restrictive laws and bias toward queer culture, underground bars and dance clubs were taking shape in the Emerald City, providing hushed spaces for self-expression while planting the roots of what would eventually become the theatrical drag brunches we know and love today. 

Long before the drag brunches of the 21st century, the Garden of Allah—one of Seattle’s first gay-owned gay bars—hosted gay cabaret and vaudeville acts in the basement of the Arlington Hotel during the mid-1940s. Jazz singers, female impersonators, exotic dancers, and strip shows captivated audiences several nights a week until it closed its doors in 1956. 

In the decades that followed, the LGBTQ+ movement in the United States underwent a series of evolutions, from the gay liberation movement of the 1960s to the first publicly visible pride marches of the 1970s. 

The queer community began taking more of a center stage in Seattle’s nightlife in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Since the early 2000s, it has stolen the spotlight for daytime fun as well. Today, drag brunches and performances can be found across Seattle, and the origins can largely be traced to Capitol Hill’s Julia’s on Broadway. 

Dreamland Fremont hosts two brunch shows every Saturday.

Courtesy of Dreamland Fremont

More than two decades ago, Julia’s started hosting drag brunches, “long before drag brunch became as mainstream and widely celebrated as it is today,” says Eladio Preciado, founder of Le Faux Productions and Julia’s drag brunches. While other drag shows were happening at the time, Julia’s held Seattle’s first drag brunches. “Seattle was a very different city back then. The drag scene was smaller and there really wasn’t a blueprint for what we were building at the time. 

“The original vision was to create a welcoming space where people could come together, celebrate individuality, and experience drag in an environment that felt fun, safe, inclusive, and elevated,” says Preciado. “The response to the early shows was incredibly positive, though much smaller and more grassroots than today. Back then, drag entertainment was not nearly as normalized or commercially visible as it is now.” 

Despite the grassroots beginnings, the early shows at Julia’s garnered strong community support. There was excitement around having public spaces where LGBTQ+ performers could gather openly. Community, creativity, connection, and performance were always at the center of the brunches. 

For Julia’s, creating a welcoming atmosphere for queer and non-queer communities was essential. These early shows set the stage for what eventually became an inseparable part of Seattle’s queer scene and Pride Month, helping make drag entertainment more mainstream over the years.

Today, Le Faux Productions has grown far from its humble beginnings. Beyond the standard drag brunch, Le Faux is known for large-scale drag productions featuring theatrical costumes, lighting, and performances. This year, it will launch a new drag show—Barbie World Y2K—to coincide with Pride Month, in celebration of freedom of expression and individuality, infused with a touch of early-2000s nostalgia. 

Julia’s on Broadway helped make drag brunch a Seattle Sunday staple.

Courtesy of Julia's on Broadway

“Pride season is always one of the most meaningful and celebratory times of the year for us because it highlights both the artistry of drag and the importance of visibility, inclusion, and community,” reflects Preciado. “More than anything, we want guests to leave feeling uplifted, welcomed, and connected through the experience.” 

This Pride Month (and beyond), here are a few places where you can brunch and celebrate with glamorous queens around the city. 

June 21

The Big O-lympic Drag Show and Brunch | Fairmont Olympic Hotel

June 28

Werk the W Drag Brunch | 9:30 a.m. at the W Seattle ahead of the parade.  

Seattle Sueñito Drag Brunch | 11 a.m. with Cynthia Lee Fontaine at El Sueñito Brewing & Frelard Tamales.

Ongoing

Bad Girls Brunch | Disney villain-inspired drag brunches every Sunday at 1 p.m. through October 4. 

Barbie World Y2K | Friday night Barbie Y2K drag starting June 5 through September 4. 

Wicked Oz Brunch | A Wicked-inspired brunch Saturdays at 1 p.m. through October 3.

Le Faux: Celebration of Drag | Julia’s signature drag brunch Saturdays at 7 p.m. through October 10.

Dreamland Fremont | Two shows every Saturday, at 11:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m., on a neotropical patio. 

Mimosas Cabaret | Every Saturday at the Mountain Room in the Old Rainier Brewery Building.