WASHINGTON — Grab your prettiest running heels, as an iconic D.C. tradition returns to the Dupont Circle neighborhood on Tuesday.
The 36th annual 17th Street High Heel Race is back in Dupont on Tuesday night. The race takes place on 17th Street Northwest between P and S streets on the northeast side of Dupont.
Editor's Note: The video above aired on Oct. 26, 2022.
The High Heel Race started back in the 1980s when some men decided to race down the street in heels and drag. The event stuck and became a yearly thing that happens on the Tuesday before Halloween.
The race celebrates the diversity of D.C.’s LGBTQ+ community. Thousands of costumed spectators are expected to cheer on costumed drag queens, drag kings and community members as they race down 17th Street.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will be in attendance to kick off the race itself.
Timeline of Events:
- 6 p.m. – Festivities begin. 17th Street NW opens to pedestrians, costumed racers and spectators (S Street – P Street Along 17th Street)
- 7 p.m. – Costume Contest begins and Performances featuring your favorite local drag artist, musicians, dancers and more!
- Special appearance by Karamo Brown
- 7:30 p.m. – High Heel Racer Registration opens (R Street NW)
- 8:55 p.m. – High Heel Race Lineup (R Street NW)
- 9 p.m. – Mayor Muriel Bowser starts the Annual 17th Street High Heel Race
- 9:15 p.m. – Award designation and After Show @JR’s (Church Street NW)
Street Closures
The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking on Tuesday, Oct. 24 from noon to 11 p.m.:
- 17th Street from New Hampshire Avenue to O Street, NW
- R Street from 16th Street to New Hampshire Avenue, NW
- Corcoran Street from 16th Street to New Hampshire Avenue, NW
- Q Street from 16th Street to 18th Street, NW
- Church Street from 16th Street and 18th Street, NW
- P Street from 16th Street to 18th Street, NW
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic on Tuesday, Oct. 24 from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.:
- 17th Street from New Hampshire Avenue to O Street, NW
- Riggs Place from 16th Street to 17th Street, NW
- R Street from 16th Street to New Hampshire Avenue, NW
- Corcoran Street from 16th Street to New Hampshire Avenue, NW
- Q Street from 16th Street to 18th Street, NW
- Church Street from 16th Street and 18th Street, NW
The following street will be intermittently closed to vehicle traffic from approximately 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.:
- P Street from 16th Street to 18th Street, NW
For timely traffic information, go to twitter.com/DCPoliceTraffic.
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