It’s time to ring in the new year with New Queers Eve – the annual LGBTQ+ dance party of the season, produced by Emoji Nightmare and hosted by Emoji & Chekova! This year, we’re celebrating the best moments, icons, and pop culture of the 21st century – from Y2K to Beyoncé, Obama to Labubu, Gaga to Barbie, and every viral moment, queer trailblazer, and cultural reset in between.

Featuring music by Kate Kush to keep you dancing straight into 2026, dazzling drag, burlesque, and dance performances featuring Velma Johnny Jones from Canada’s Drag Race, and a sparkling midnight champagne toast, this is the queerest, fiercest, and most fabulous way to close out the year.

Dress inspired by your favorite icon, era, or pop culture moment of the past 25 years – think viral looks, legendary music videos, internet nostalgia, or your own fantasy brought to life.

Don’t miss the ultimate celebration of queer joy, camp, nostalgia, and new beginnings – New Queers Eve 2025!

Performances by:
Katniss Everqueer
Rhedd Rhumm
STELLARIS
Marjorie Mayhem
Domini’que Anjou
Alexis Tential Crisis
Pete Zapparti
Miss Chekova

NQE ’25 art by Nicole Christman

Velma Jones, also known as Johnny Jones when performing as a drag king, is a Montreal drag performer and one of the contestants of the sixth season of Canada’s Drag Race. As an AFAB (assigned female at birth) queen, Velma Jones is here to prove that representation matters. Velma placed first in Drag Moi at Cabaret Mado, and Mx Cocktail at Le Bar Cocktail, not to mention she performed at the biggest show at Montreal Pride in 2023, Drag Superstar. Always booked and busy, Velma even co-produces and co-directs Canada’s Drag Race winner Gisele Lullaby’s weekly show, Full Gisèle. Velma is very passionate about supporting younger Drag artists with mentorship and education.

Emoji Nightmare has been performing across Vermont and the region since 2015 and is one of the state’s leading drag entertainers. She is host and producer of many of the largest LGBTQ+ events of the past decade. She is the co-founder of the Vermont chapter of Drag Story Hour and winner of Seven Days’ annual Daysies Awards for Best Drag Performer or Group in Vermont.

Best Drag Performer or Group (2025)