went to Dollywood + Orlando Fringe Fest! 🏳️‍🌈 (a month of drag queens and almost-naked ladies)

been a long few weeks lol first we made the 10 hour drive to Tennessee to go to Dollywood for my mom's birthday, which was so much fun. it was my first time in TN and Dollywood and I honestly expected people to be meaner lol don't get me wrong some people weren't nice, but I didn't have any issues with security at Dollywood so the day was a lot of fun. unfortunately I look terrible in every selfie because the roller coaster hair was baddd lol

I rode every coaster (except the 2 closed rides) and they were so fun!!

visited Cades Cove and saw some sights in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, too! this was my first time really being on any mountains, I had very conflicting feelings about it lmao it's so weird??? anyways here's a pic at one of the peaks, this first photo is at the the NC/TN border and it's 5040 feet. they are definitely smokey

came back to Florida and immediately saw The Lion King musical tour, also very cool but the crowd was terrible?? it was half little kids but they weren't even the problem tbh the family sitting in the row in front of us was just terrible. constantly on their phones, one guy kept pulling his phone out to take photos and videos but in that really obnoxious boomer-y way where they hold the phone above their fucking head, so he was blocking the view of the people behind him. they just sucked.

and then on Saturday we went to Orlando Fringe since I wanted to see a Rocky Horror improv show because Venus Envy (an awesome drag queen) is in it! The improv aspect was interesting because each night had a unique host and a unique theme, our night was hosted by Vulva Va-Voom (a cool transmasc performer who does cabaret and comedy) and the chosen theme was fandom, so the cast had to improv around being at a fandom convention lol

we also saw a show called Sam's Skeleton Soiree because my mom's friend Teddy was in it, and it was a lot like the shows done at scare events like Halloween Horror Nights and Howl-O-Scream, which I know Teddy has also been in, so it was pretty good! but only because the dancers all absolutely fucking crushed it. the song choices were so weird lol there was your typical "spooky" music (Bring Me to Life. they always use Bring Me to Life.) but also Smooth Criminal from GLEE??? 😭 I couldn't take that one seriously.

and finally I saw Corset & Cuties, a burlesque show. by finally I mean that my mom's other friend runs this show (the aforementioned Teddy is also in it) so my mom has been trying to plan a time for me to see it for years and I've just never had the chance. some of you are probably weirded out by the idea that my mom has been actively encouraging me to come watch ladies and men strip down to thongs with her, but in this family we cherish the arts. and it was a super good show! sad that this is their last 2 weeks performing as a troupe :'(

we're going back to do another day at Fringe on Saturday, see some more shows, and Corsets & Cuties again because Teddy has this award-winning For Your Entertainment (Adam Lambert) act that my mom says I HAVE to see. I'm sorta really underselling all of these people's talents by calling them "my mom's friends" and not "these amazing award winning performers" but, y'know. they are my mom's friends lol

of course I got no pics of the shows themselves (gotta respect the rules!) but I did take a fuck ton of selfies :) new pfp coming at y'all soon

that's all I have to share right now lol but I hope that explains the radio silence, the past 2 and a half weeks have felt like soooooo much with barely any time to decompress!!!