Washington DC’s annual High Heel Race saw over 100 drag queens and costumed revelers parading through the streets last night as a screaming crowd urged them on. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has kicked off the race every year since taking office.
The costumed extravaganza draws over 1000 spectators to watch the queens parade up and down the streets before the race starts. Only a small percentage of participants actually run the course; most promenade to the finish line to wild cheers at the elaborate costumes.
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Since 1999 a gay bar has been the lead organizer, but since the event is free, organizers didn’t make any money to pay for street closures and emergency personnel. The city has provided those services for years and the mayor’s office became the official sponsor last year.
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This year’s parade and race featured contestants lit up with LED lights, bewigged beauties, and, of course, a group of National’s supporters. And, of course, social media documented every moment as the crowd ate it up.
Thank you to all who came out for the 33rd annual 17th Street High Heel Race! I am #DCproud to lead a city that values diversity and inclusion. A city that is home to the best queer community in the world! #DCvalues pic.twitter.com/X4jczbMq8F
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) October 30, 2019
Happy DC high-heel-race night! pic.twitter.com/7DDCmTrY3G
— Kat Lucero (@kat_lucero) October 30, 2019
Washington High Heel Race 2019 #highheelrace #highheels pic.twitter.com/haqiaV8S28
— Sébastien Blanc (@sebastienblanc) October 30, 2019
More great photos from the 17th Street High Heel Race♥️ pic.twitter.com/wolNbUU0AR
— Capital Pride (@CapitalPrideDC) October 30, 2019
Runners in high heels and elaborate costumes sped down 17th Street in Dupont Circle for the annual High Heel Race. Read the story: https://t.co/tFoiamiDwz pic.twitter.com/8wulGM9CcE
— WTOP (@WTOP) October 30, 2019
This year's High Heel Race featured a set of prominent whistle blowers, a super cute Peach Bowers combo, a sexy Pope, and our favorite GLOW gals! Happy Halloween! pic.twitter.com/MDKGhP0yCj
— Category Is: Depression, but Sexy (@tallgayginger) October 30, 2019
No one said it better than the whistle blower queens at the high heel race tonight #letsgonats pic.twitter.com/jLWmqdkuvU
— Anna Chelak (@annachelakk) October 30, 2019
Just left the high heel race, so many beautiful costumes, drag queens, and queers. pic.twitter.com/yrcg2Dbvgx
— Spooky Yogi (@yogaXpapi) October 30, 2019
Did you know that in DC there is a yearly drag queen high heel race? And that, like, thousands of people show up to watch? I didn’t. Now I do. pic.twitter.com/9O06BDqTQC
— Tom Rademacher (@MrTomRad) October 30, 2019
DC High Heel Race!! 👠😆 pic.twitter.com/D9oca1739i
— chich (@chich) October 30, 2019
The annual 17th St high heel race where a bunch of drag queens run down the streets of dc in heels 👠👑 pic.twitter.com/wSZzGYXSjJ
— Sara Pearl (@skenigsberg) October 30, 2019
(While local resident Ted Eytan uploaded dozens of incredible shots, not all of them made it to social media but they’re definitely worth checking out on Flickr. He took the main image for this article.)
