When it comes to seasonally-themed portmanteaus, one could do worse than “Halloweird,” Sonoma County’s most bizarre Halloween party taking up residence at Santa Rosa’s El Infierno Cantina this Thursday, Oct. 29.
The brainchild of local promoter Jake Ward via his North Bay Cabaret event company, Halloweird is a combo of burlesque, dance, music and general weirdness with a circus sideshow vibe. But in addition to being fun and entertaining, Ward hopes his events can be more than just a weird night out for grown-ups.
“While events like this are ostensibly about entertainment, they’re really about community. We’ve been lucky enough for North Bay Cabaret to become more than a show. It’s a place where like-minded people gather for a shared experience,” says Ward. “In an increasingly disconnected society, we hope these events serve a deeper purpose by bringing people together.”
The evening kicks off a bit early with a “Creepy Cocktail Reception” featuring a full bar and music by DJ Dyops. Those who have purchased a seat for the night are also able to snag their spot during this time. From there, the show shifts into variety show mode with a bevy of performers including circus, burlesque, drag, pole, poetry and comedy. There’s also interactive crowd games, music and general shenanigans.
Ward himself will be hosting the show, and some of the scheduled performers include North Bay Cabaret regular Jamie DeWolf, an Oakland-based performer, filmmaker, writer and circus ringmaster best known for his raw, raucous spoken word and his long-running variety show, The Ruckus Revival. A National Poetry Slam champion and NPR “Performance of the Year” winner, DeWolf has toured internationally, appeared on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and directed films that have won dozens of festival awards.
Snatch Adams is an Oakland-based burlesque performer and clown who combines classic circus skills like knife-juggling and unicycling with risqué tease. A childhood spent traveling with the circus led her to clown college and international tours.
Qu’in de la Noche is a BIPOC multidisciplinary artist, dancer and “wielder of weapons” who has captivated audiences for nearly 25 years. Known for her superhuman stage presence, she was part of the first all-American cast of The Empire Strips Back and has performed at major venues including Outside Lands and Coachella.
Bay Area “shocklesque” performer and fire dancer Roxy Mirage is known for blending burlesque with dance, storytelling and creepy clown imagery. Her acts feature over-the-top prop elements, including confetti cannons and a signature bit where she uses an angle grinder against her metallic costume to send sparks flying.
Kinky, passionate queer, trans non-binary drag king Pony Bambino, aka “The Italian Stallion,” will be bringing his big booty to the stage. He is the winner of the 2025 Golden Dildeaux Award for Best Drag/Burlesque Performer and the People’s Choice award at the 2025 San Francisco Drag King competition.
Wonder Dave is a Bay Area-based comedian, writer and performer who is known for hosting and producing several popular comedy shows such as Safe Words Queer Comedy Showcase and Mental Health Comedy Hour. He also performs “Boylesque” and commentates for the underground wrestling show Hoodslam.
Also along for the festivities are Twitch streamer Abby Smol, who describes her style as “smol cozy chaos”; writer and poet Jordan Ranft; dancer Mel Debret; musicians Nevaeh Travis, Erica Ambrin and Karenna Slade; live swing-punk from Van Goat; plus more acts soon to be announced.
Ward says he’s as excited as ever about this year’s lineup, with familiar faces, while also noting, “We have three acts making their North Bay Cabaret debuts: The Displayed Labors Sideshow, an Oakland circus sideshow duo; Drea Soulfool, an award-winning, international clown; and Titus Androgynous, a drag artist from right here in Sonoma County.”
He also is quick to bring up a trigger warning that “The Displayed Labors Sideshow is bringing a performance so dark and intense that we’ll give the audience a heads-up and frankly encourage more sensitive viewers to step out of the room for that act.”
Perhaps slightly less scary and also quite intriguing, Ward says, “Drea Soulfool is bringing her legendary ‘bed act,’ in which a sleeping couple gets haunted by a blanket with a mind of its own. It’s the kind of thing you really have to see for yourself.”
For those who have been following along and attending North Bay Cabaret events for years, they undoubtedly have seen the events moving around to several different venues such as the Phoenix Theatre, Whiskey Tip and the Mystic Theater. Yet this year’s Halloweird marks the second in a row at Santa Rosa’s El Infierno Cantina, and Ward feels the venue fits, plus he may finally have found the perfect spot.
“For those who remember our shows at Whiskey Tip, there was always this gritty, underground vibe, and being outdoors was part of the charm, but it also put us at the mercy of the weather,” says Ward. “Moving to the Mystic gave the show a more elevated, theatrical feel. At El Infierno, it feels like we’ve recaptured that original raw, rowdy energy, but with the comfort of an indoor venue and the convenience of being right in downtown Santa Rosa.”
Ward continues, “With its 500+ person capacity, three distinct environments and two full bars, El Infierno gives guests room to wander, mingle and choose their own adventure. That freedom is a big part of what makes it such a good home for Halloweird.”
Another eye-grabbing note about the event is the clever tagline, “more sleaze, less fees,” and Ward explains that’s more than just a nifty catch-phrase. It’s “a silly way of saying something I take seriously: I want people to be able to afford a memorable night out,” he notes.
“We’ve kept the base ticket prices the same as last year, and this year we’re absorbing the ticketing fee on the $25 standing ticket. So $25 actually means $25. That gets you the full variety show. There are reserved seats and tables available at higher prices, but the $25 ticket gets you the whole night of entertainment,” Ward adds. “People are making choices about where they can afford to go. I want to make saying yes to this one a little easier.”
Halloweird commences at 6pm, Thursday, Oct. 29, at El Infierno Cantina, 120 5th St., Santa Rosa. Tickets range from $25 to $300+. For more information and tickets, visit northbayevents.com.
