December 18, 2025, Review by Shandra Conley
This year marks the sixth year since Seward Pride Alliance started hosting the annual fundraiser widely known as Santa Ball. Santa Ball has been a sold-out event ever since its first debut in Seward in 2019, and it continues to push the envelope with the incredible talent that performs each year. This event has been such a success the Seward Pride Alliance is happy to say they look to increase the amount of tickets to be sold next year, allowing more accommodations to all the supportive attendees!
Pictured: Athena Nuff / Photo credit: Seward Pride Alliance
The Seward Pride Alliance has been around since 2019 and works to provide inclusive resources, education, and outreach that fosters a strong, engaged community of LGBTQA+ individuals and their allies. With its 1.4k following on their social media platforms, it is evident how impactful this alliance has become to not only Seward locals, but the surrounding towns as well.
The Seward community continues to help support this Alliance with every event they get invited to. The recently elected President of the Seward Pride Alliance, Sierra Lloyd was blown away by the support from the Seward community. She shared, “The event was an absolute blast, and it wouldn’t have been without such an incredible audience. I’m so excited to put this on again next year — every year it seems it gets better and better!”
“The event was an absolute blast, and it wouldn’t have been without such an incredible audience. I’m so excited to put this on again next year — every year it seems it gets better and better!”
-S.P.A. President, Sierra Lloyd
Pictured left to right: Glenn Coco and Golden Delicious /
Photo credit: Seward Pride Alliance
As a current Seward local who arrived a mere three years ago, I got the privilege of attending this event for the first time this year due to finally purchasing a ticket before they were sold out! This was an event I heard so much about and was looking forward to seeing myself. I had previously attended a few other events hosted by the Seward Pride Alliance during their annual Pride events, so I could only imagine how great this show would be.
I will say I had high hopes for this show and the legs were even higher! This event did not only meet my expectations, it surpassed them!
Pictured: Akasha Romanov /
Photo credit: Seward Pride Alliance
Another recent Seward local, Chris Beaudet, whose first-ever drag show was this year’s Santa Ball, exclaims, “The show was incredible! The interaction between queens/kings and the audience was electrifying. Watching both feed off the energy of the other made for such a magical space. Seeing dollar bills pile up at the feet of performers laying it all out for the crowd, watching glitter-covered fans clap and giggle along, and seeing the community coalesce around one night made me proud to be part of this town.”
Being a part of the town of Seward, many people have certain events they would say they look forward to. Savannah Costner could not agree more that to her Santa Ball is the highlight event to her winter times here in Seward. Savannah goes on to state how she loves “seeing incredibly talented drag queens and kings perform their art and leave it all on the floor, they have incredible makeup, and know how to work a crowd, and every year I lose my voice from cheering them on. It’s always so much fun!”
“The show was incredible! The interaction between queens/kings and the audience was electrifying. Watching both feed off the energy of the other made for such a magical space. Seeing dollar bills pile up at the feet of performers laying it all out for the crowd, watching glitter-covered fans clap and giggle along, and seeing the community coalesce around one night made me proud to be part of this town.”
-Local resident, Chris Beaudet
Pictured: Golden Delicious /
Photo Credit: Seward Pride Alliance
During this show the fabulous host Golden Delicious asked the audience to raise their hands if they were not Seward locals and to my surprise there were at least ten hands in the air. When asked where they were coming from, some people were as close as Moose Pass and others from as far away as Wasilla. To me, this amplified Seward Pride Alliance’s ability to create and promote an environment that welcomes everyone.
Now there were not only new attendees at this event, there was also a multitude of new talent who made their first debut! For this event Seward Pride Alliance was able to welcome this particular drag king to the stage, Kris Kinkle!
When asked about the event, Kris Kinkle shared, “I am very appreciative for the opportunity that S.P.A. gave through the Santa Ball Drag Show event to give Seward locals to showcase their drag. The whole experience was supportive; from other local drag performers in the week leading up to the show to all those who came to the Santa Ball. The energy from the crowd was contagious and any nervousness melted away with the cheers of excitement. I don’t think there would be any better venue to debut my drag at.”
Pictured left to right: Henry Helvetica and Kris Kinkle /
Photo Credit: Seward Pride Alliance
Kris Kinkle was able to capture the whole audience with his Christmas-themed number that brought laughter and enjoyment to all watching. You would have never known this was his very first time performing as a drag king.
Along with Kris Kinkle, three other Seward local talents that performed this night were the up-and-coming drag king Henry Helvetica, the statement queen Totally Tiff, and the rising star Cosmic Twinkle Belle. All of these performers are a great inspiration to any locals who have the desire to perform in drag. Through their performances beside other big name queens and kings who come from large cities, it truly puts into perspective just how achievable one’s dream of performing can be, which is all thanks to the Seward Pride Alliance.
This show was truly a spectacular night and all of the performers should be proud of what they brought to this event. I was thankful to get the chance to see such incredible talent from José Queervo, Akasha Romanov, Athena Nuff, and Glenn Coco! There would not be a Santa Ball without these wonderful humans who gather together in Seward for a memorable night.
Seward has so much to offer within the community and we should be proud of the diversity all around us. Seward Pride Alliance strives to keep building a welcoming community that supports everyone. If you are looking for a fun night in your winter calendar, then Santa Ball is an event not to miss next winter. It’s a once-in-a-year kind of show!
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