There is no denying it: winter is most definitely here. November is ending, the cold demands you to reluctantly swap your autumn fits for your big puffer jacket, and the late-night tube journey home is becoming even more of an arduous task. But don’t be defeated by the chill! The London queer scene only becomes more magical and fun-filled during the Christmas season and, lucky for you, we’ve composed a list of some of the best events going on this December. So whether your gaggle of gays and they want to dance until late, catch a seasonal drag show or stroll mulled wine in hand around a Christmas market, drop these events in the group chats and rally the gals!
1. Make it Rein: Let’s get F***ing Festive fundraiser
- When: Saturday 2nd December, 1pm-5pm
- Where: The Common Press Bookshop, 118 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 6DG
- Price: FREE to £12
- More info available at: @sisterprods @thecommonpress
To start us off, markets are a must during the holidays – especially when they’re hosted at one of the best queer bookshops in the city! Head over to Common Press on Saturday 2nd for an afternoon of browsing the stalls available at this fundraising event, with proceeds contributing to the development of a new British musical, ‘We’ll Have Nun of It!’. You can also expect music, carol singing, tattoos, workshops, comedy shows, burlesque and more!
2. Dykes on Mics, Festive Karaoke
- When: Saturday 9th December, 8pm-close
- Where: The Glitch, 134 Lower Marsh, London, SE1 7AE
- Price: £8
- Tickets here
Karaoke guarantees tipsy fun to break the ice. This night at The Glitch is perfect for gathering your gays together and getting silly. Brace yourself for some attempts at Mariah’s All I Want For Christmas is You…
3. Pxssy Liquor’s Office Christmas Party
- When: Thursday 21st December, 8:30-10pm
- Where: The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre
- Price: FREE
- More info here
Pxssy Liquor, the cabaret collective for queer women and non-binary pals, presents a night of ‘high-energy, disco-trashy cabaret’ at the Southbank Centre. With free entry(!) it’s hard to resist. Drag all your babes out of bed and onto the dance floor for some campy Christmas chaos.
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4. LdnQueerMart Queermas, Christmas Market
- When: Friday 8th December
- Where: Vauxhall Food & Beer Garden, 6A South Lambeth Place, London, SW8 1SP
- Price: FREE
- More info available at: @ldnqueermart
Another Christmas market for you. This one boasts over fifty stalls run by queer artists, creatives and business owners. Getting friends together to markets can be tricky when they are often held during the day and everyone’s caught up at work – but with Queermas being a night market, you can fit in your Christmas shopping after hours. Go and browse the crafts including ceramics, prints, jewellery, clothing and zines (and more) to find those crafty presents for your chosen family – just be sneaky about it if they’ll all be there with you!
5. Dalston Superstore’s Xmas Bash!
- When: Saturday 16th December, 9pm-4pm
- Where: Dalston Superstore, 117 Kingsland High St, E8 2PB
- Price: £8-12
- More info here
Any list of queer gathering places – at any time of the year – would be incomplete without reference to the Mothership, Dalston Superstore. For their big Christmas bash this year they have a holly-jolly line-up of DJs and gogo dancers to keep you hot whilst it’s so cold. With presale tickets already sold out, it’s guaranteed to be a busy night, so get there early if your group wants to bag tickets on the door!
6. Coronation of Kings – Xmas Special! Drag King Show
- When: Friday 8th December & Saturday 10th December, 7:30pm-close
- Where: The Glory, 281 Kingsland Road, E2 8AS
- Price: £10-15
- Tickets information
If there is one thing we can always see more of, it’s drag kings! The Glory’s Coronation of Kings celebrates East London’s drag king community. With this Xmas special event, you’ll be introduced to a few new faces on the scene alongside those already iconic kings, including hosts Shardeazy Afrodiziak and Richard Energy.
7. Queer Noise: queer poetry, music and comedy night
- When: Thursday 14th December, 7-10pm
- Where: VFDalston, 66 Stoke Newington Rd, London, N16 7XB
- Price: £8-14
- More info available at: @queer.noise
If your group still fancies a night out but something a little more chilled, Queer Noise provides a platform for queer creatives to showcase their poetry, music and comedy. Whilst not necessarily a Christmas themed event, this is still a great option for a more intimate gathering surrounded by queer joy and creativity.
8. Queer Horror Nights presents Christmas Evil (1980)
- When: Friday 15th December, screening starts at 22:30
- Where: Rio Cinema, 107 Kingsland High St, E8 2PB
- Price: £17.50 (adult) £16.00 (concession)
- Ticket info
All the sickly-sweet festivities too much for you? Perhaps your mates fancy something a little spooky this holiday season? If so, traipse on down to Rio Cinema on Friday 15th, where Lewis Jackson’s 1980 Christmas Evil is being shown. With pre-drinks and an interval show hosted by @tokenhomo, this night would be ideal for those groups wanting a little silly scream to break the idyllic Christmas scene.
9. Dyke the Halls: quiz and club night
- When: Thursday 7th December, 7:30pm-late
- Where: The Camden Club, 72-73 Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8AN
- Price: £8-10
Who doesn’t love a pub quiz? Get the girls together for Dyke the Halls, five rounds of a questions composed for the queers. Brush up on your music, queer history and pop culture and impress your pals. If that’s not already enough, after the quiz there will be a DJ set until late.
10. Sid’s & Friends’ Christmas craft fair
- When: Saturday 10th December
- Where: The Old Nun’s Head, 15 Nunhead Grn, SE15 3QQ
- Price: FREE
Last, but in no way least, The Old Nun’s Head, the iconic South London queer pub is hosting another Christmas market showcasing the craft of queer, POC, non-binary and female creatives. Perfect if you fancy mulled wine and sweet treats donated from local bakeries followed by a cheeky pint, all whilst getting your Christmas shopping done on time. The fair is fundraising for the local queer basketball team @queensofpeckham and also to the pub’s Nunfund which donates to locals gender-affirming surgeries. Head on down South because what is not to love!
So there you have it: an array of options for queers of all interests – no excuses to stay home and be a Scrooge!
Love Team Nonchalant xx
Last Updated on 30th November 2023 by Nonchalant Magazine
Hii I’m Mads (they/them)! I’m an anthropology graduate who is passionate about queer politics and countering intersectional oppression through communal practices of queer joy!
Writing for Nonchalant is to me a way to help keep our community connected, informed about moments of cultural significance, and up to date with events that help foster solidarity amongst us!
