Happyland returns to PNE with world-famous drag performers for Pride

Am I still kind of sad I missed Happyland at the PNE last year? Yes. Masked gay cowboy icon Orville Peck headlined a night of very variable vibes, considering the other performers were certified sad boy musician Perfume Genius, patron saint of bounce Big Freedia, local drag performers, and DJ Softieshan. 

This year, the second annual Happyland is back, bigger and better—and leaning into the drag of it all. 

Self-styled “world-famous drag queen with a passion for make-up artistry” and country musician Trixie Mattel is set to headline, along with the Grammy-nominated, most-followed, most-streamed drag queen in the world, Brazilian sensation Pabllo Vittar. Drag queens have a reputation for putting out questionable music, but Mattel and Vittar are certified stars with, genuinely, very good tunes behind them.

RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars season two winner Alaska, bisexual electropop singer Slayyyter and Canada’s Drag Race season one champ Priyanka round out the main stage line-up. 

Softieshan returns to spin tunes, alongside My!Gay!Husband. Local non-binary drag supergroup Enby 6 are onstage too: Kara Juku, Mx Bukuru, Rogue, PM and Amy Grindhouse will perform, with the whole night hosted by sixth member Venus. 

 

 

 

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If the music and performers weren’t enough, attendees also have access to Playland’s rides and food stalls—letting the queers really just have the place to ourselves for the night.

According to the Happyland website, “Timbre Concerts and Sunrise Series will be donating a portion of each ticket sold to Vancouver Pride Society and QMUNITY, who help support and facilitate funding for LGBTQ2S+ community members, events and organizations.”

Tickets for Happyland go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday here. Happyland takes place Sunday, August 6 at PNE Amphitheatre and Playland.