Diversity Weekends in Eureka Springs take place in April, August and November, drawing visitors from across the region to eat, revel, shop and hang out. Members of the local LGBTQ+ community open their arms and offer, well, a big group hug.
A slate of events was held in locales around town Aug. 2-3 and included a fundraising drag brunch Saturday at the Wanderoo Lodge and Gravel Bar. Guests gave one dollar at a time until emcee Patti Le Plae Safe, dressed in an emerald green floor-length evening gown, had collected nearly $1,500. The money will go toward finishing a two-bedroom unit for LGBTQ+ members at ECHO Village, said Le Plae Safe.
ECHO Village, a project by Suzie and Dr. Dan Bell, is a living community for individuals who are homeless, low income or in need of financial assistance. The two created it out of their Eureka Christian Health Outreach – a faith-based free medical clinic for uninsured, low-income individuals who are at or below the federal poverty level.
Participating drag queens, one of whom lives in Dallas, gave up leisure time on a Saturday to get gussied up and put their best heeled foot forward for the cause.
Other events from Diversity Weekend included a mass PDA (public display of affection) at Basin Park, also on Saturday, followed by a lively evening of drag BINGO at Brews. Visitors from as far away as Kansas City, Tulsa and Baton Rouge attended additional dance parties and meetups, the likes of which were hosted by Gotahold Brewing and Missy’s White Rabbit.
Jay Wilkes, who began Out in Eureka seven years ago, passed the torch on the group’s Diversity Weekend to Gotahold’s Wendy Hartman and Wanderoo’s Ethan Avanzino this year. Hartman and Avanzino see value in being “out in Eureka” and gladly took over as organizers.
“As we started to evolve into a nonprofit, we heard story after story, all unique yet similar,” said Hartman. “While Eureka Springs is always hospitable, there is something to being in a place with a lot of people like you who really see you.”
Avanzino said Diversity Weekends are essential because they provide a vibrant space for LGBTQ+ members to gather in community and connect with others, mainly visitors.
“These weekends celebrate our diversity and unity, fostering a spirit of inclusion and joy while honoring the spirit of tolerance and acceptance instilled in the land from the Osage people,” Avanzino said.
