Best Bets: Our Guide to the Best LGBTQ Events in Atlanta for December 6-19

Friday, Dec. 6

No one rings in the holidays like the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus. The chorus’ annual holiday concert is this weekend. This concert is Atlanta’s well-loved traditional kickoff to the holiday season, with music to inspire holiday cheer and good will. The AGMC is working with Lost-n-Found Youth to serve Atlanta’s homeless LGBTQ youth; audience members are encouraged to bring items from a wish list that will be passed on to help LNFY clients.

8pm tonight and Dec. 7 at 1 and 6pm

The Cathedral of St. Philip 

 

Chart-topping, Grammy-nominated saxophonist Dave Koz returns to the road this holiday season with the 22nd annual Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2019. Joining Dave will be: South African guitarist/singer Jonathan Butler, who has accompanied Dave on numerous Christmas outings; Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Melissa Manchester, known for such mega-hits as “Don’t Cry Out Loud”; Copenhagen-born jazz/soul saxophonist Michael Lington; and special guest Chris Walker, singer, bassist and former musical director for Al Jarreau. Koz and Friends will perform fresh renditions of timeless Christmas classics – as well as a Chanukah medley – and hits from their respective catalogues.

8pm

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

 

Don your best gay apparel and join The MetroGnomes as they “Swing Into the Holidays!” These holiday jazz and swing tunes are sure to warm the chilliest late fall night. The show features a 16-piece big band and featured vocalists for your dancing and listening pleasure.

8 – 10pm

Amsterdam Atlanta

 

Joe Whitaker Presents DILF “Jingle My Balls Daddy” party to ring in the holiday season in style! Grab your leather harness and jocks for a night of sweaty dancing with DJ Jesus Pelayo spinning the beats!

10pm – 3am

Heretic Atlanta

 

Saturday, Dec. 7

Watch the SEC Championship today and root on the Georgia Bulldogs as they play the LSU Tigers.

Noon – 3pm

Woofs Atlanta

 

Charis Books and More welcomes Dr. E. Patrick Johnson in conversation with Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall for a celebration of “Honeypot: Black Southern Women Who Love Women,” a narrative non-fiction companion to his instant classic oral history released earlier this year, “Black. Queer. Southern. Women – An Oral History.” Dr. Johnson is a professor and Chair of the African-American Studies Department at Northwestern University. Beverly Guy-Sheftall is a Black feminist scholar, writer, and editor, who is the Anna Julia Cooper Professor of Women’s Studies and English at Spelman College. She is the founding director of the Spelman College Women’s Research and Resource Center, the first at a historically Black college or university. Together, Dr. Johnson and Dr. Guy-Sheftall will discuss the power of form and craft in shaping Honeypot and the importance of Black, gay, lesbian, and queer oral histories for our time.

7:30 – 9pm

 

It’s a holiday tradition! The Atlanta Ballet presents “The Nutcracker.” 

Opening tonight at 8pm and running through Dec. 24

Fox Theatre

 

B.I.G. Productions Bear Invasion returns to Atlanta on Dec. 7 with the One and Only Paulo!

10pm – 3am

Heretic Atlanta

 

Sunday, Dec. 8

Georgia native Jamie Barton, a mezzo-soprano who came out as bisexual, has played at opera houses around the world and visits Spivey Hall today, in concert with pianist Kathleen Kelly.

3pm

 

Pageant lovers, take note! The Miss Universe pageant takes place tonight at Tyler Perry Studios.

7pm

 

It was a lesbian phenomenon and now “The L Word” is back. “The L Word: Generation Q” starts Sunday nights tonight for seven weeks. A viewing party is tonight at My Sister’s Room. A Queer AF Drag show will take place along with

“L Word” trivia and the screening afterward. It’s all followed by a dance party with DJ Amethyst.

8:30pm

 

Monday, Dec. 9 

No wire hangers! Out Front Theatre Company and Out On Film host a screening of “Mommie Dearest” to coincide with the ongoing play “Christmas With the Crawfords.”

7pm

 

Play Texas Hold’Em Poker tonight with your buddies at Friends on Ponce.

8pm

 

Tuesday, Dec. 10

Feeling adventurous? Come out for Underwear Night at Atlanta Eagle.

7pm – 3am

 

Wednesday, Dec. 11

A holiday favorite is back. The Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Garden Lights, Holiday Nights returns this year with new features and crowd favorites – including new music and motion. Experience the Skylights Lounge in the Skyline Garden, several larger-than-life plant giants from Imaginary Worlds: Alice’s Wonderland display, and displays like the Ice Goddess and Tunnel of Light.

Running through Jan 11

 

Tell ‘em Large Marge sent ya! Wussy Wednesdays return with the 1985 camp classic “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” directed by Tim Burton. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes. The event is hosted by Brigitte Bidet, Molly Rimswell and Mystery Meat as Pee-Wee Herman.

7:30pm

Plaza Theatre 

 

Thursday, Dec. 12

Metro Atlanta Association of Professionals (MAAP) will celebrate the holidays tonight with the ultimate networking event of the year. The night kicks off on the rooftop terrace at the Alexan on 8th in Midtown. Bill Kaelin Marketing will provide holiday refreshments in the super cool speakeasy for you to enjoy while festively networking the night away. Admission is a new unwrapped toy and those who bring one will receive five raffle tickets to win a set of VIP passes to the Toy Party.

6 – 9pm

 

Like a damaged St. Nick for the Christmas corrupted, John Waters – legendary filmmaker (“Female Trouble”, “Hairspray”, “Serial Mom”), raconteur and author of the bestselling books – hitchhikes into town with a bag full of sticks and stones for the devoted and the damned, spreading Yuletide profanity and perverted piety with his critically acclaimed one-man show, “A John Waters Christmas.” This rapid-fire “trigger warning” for holiday traditionalists asks the questions, “Is Prancer the only gay reindeer?”, “Is it wrong to steal purses from cars in graveyard parking lots on Christmas Eve while mourners leave flowers?,” “Has Santa ever been nude?,” and, most importantly, “Should you disrupt living crèche celebrations this year in the name of political action?”

7pm

Variety Playhouse

 

Friday, Dec. 13

The riotous camp classic “Christmas with the Crawfords” is based on the actual Christmas Eve live radio broadcast from Joan Crawford’s Brentwood mansion in 1949. Filled with exaggerated silver screen icons, this mash-up musical parody is a loving homage to Hollywood’s “Golden Age” and features appearances of Tinsel Town divas such as Judy Garland, Carmen Miranda, Gloria Swanson, Hedda Hopper, Ethel Merman, and the Andrews Sisters. “Christmas with The Crawfords” is a delightful alternative to the usual saccharine fare offered during the holidays and is guaranteed to make anyone who sees it feel much better about their own family this time of year.

8pm, through Dec. 21

Out Front Theatre Company

 

Saturday, Dec. 14

The new Drag Queen Brunch runs today at Twisted Soul Cookhouse and Pours. Amber Devine will be hosting today. Afterwards, DJ Shailon will be spinning music to keep the party going.

Noon – 2pm

 

The legendary Libby Whittemore kicks off her tenth season of Libby’s at the Express with her annual holiday show “Ho, Ho, Home for the Holidays and A Connie Sue Day Christmas.” She is joined by the hilarious Connie Sue Day (the 31st Lady of Country Music) for one of Atlanta’s favorite holiday traditions, tonight at 8pm with shows Dec. 20-22 as well.

 

Sunday, Dec. 15

The PFLAG support group for parents and families of LGBTQ children meets today.

2:30 – 4pm

Spiritual Living Center

 

It’s one of the big parties of the season – For the Kid in All of Us hosts the Toy Party and Silent Auction tonight. Admission includes great entertainment, complimentary food, and a wide variety of drinks, including four drinks free with every general admission ticket (or unlimited drinks for VIP).

6 – 11pm

Domaine and The Wimbish House

 

Monday, Dec. 16

Trans and Friends is a youth-focused group for trans people, people questioning their own gender and aspiring allies, providing a facilitated space to discuss gender, relevant resources and activism around social issues.

6:30 – 8pm

Charis Books and More

 

It’s one of the greatest lesbian films of all time – “Bound” screens tonight as part of Queers on Film, sponsored by Wussy Mag and Out On Film. Sparks fly when Violet (Jennifer Tilly) sets eyes on Corky (Gina Gershon) in an elevator. Violet is the girlfriend of a violent gangster, Caesar (Joe Pantoliano), while Corky is fresh out of prison and doing renovations on the apartment next door. As the two women launch into a passionate love affair, they assemble an intricate plan for Violet to escape from Caesar, with two million dollars of the mob’s money – but the important part is to make it out alive. The screening will feature a talkback and special burlesque tribute by Royal Tee.

7:30pm

Plaza Theatre

 

Tuesday, Dec. 17

Latino Tuesday is tonight at Blake’s on the Park

 

Wednesday, Dec. 18

Cirque du Soleil’s latest, “Volta,” continues its near-capacity run with shows at 4:30 and 8 pm today.

4:30pm and 8pm, through Jan. 5

Atlantic Station

 

Thursday, Dec. 19

Ding ding ding! The House of ALXNDR invites you to the Big Queer Game Show tonight. Come out for a night of live game show antics, including live drag performances. From queer takes on “Password,” to “The Newlywed Game,” “Jeopardy” and “Family Feud,” anyone can compete. Prizes range from local finds to cash prizes. Hosted by + featuring performances from the House of ALXNDR: Avana ALXNDR, Folly Nation, Molly Rimswell & Taylor Alxndr.

10pm – 9am

The Bakery Atlanta

 

UPCOMING 

Saturday, Dec. 21

Do you love books, sci-fi, and fantasy? Then join the OutWorlders Book Club. December’s book is “Old Man’s War” by John Scalzi. At 75 years old, John Perry joins the army, where he’s given a new body crafted from his original DNA and upgraded for battle. To defend Earth, he will fight battles far from home

2 – 4pm

Fulton County Library System, Kirkwood Branch

 

Take a magical, musical ride with the Atlanta Freedom Band as they go on “A Midnight Journey with Santa Claus.” At this year’s holiday concert, you can stowaway on Santa’s sleigh and take in the festivities and traditions going on around the globe. AFB’s 70-piece Concert Band will whisk you to the North Pole on The Polar Express for a peek into Santa’s workshop. AFB continues its Student Composer Residency Program with music from Christopher Kyle Green. An active musician in high school, he is now working on his Master’s degree at Kennesaw State University. We will perform his new work, “The Sacred Pipe.”

8 – 9:30pm

Church at Ponce and Highland