This inaugural drag challenge is anything but a drag.
Morgantown’s only drag challenge is worth babbling on about—so clear your schedule, because the inaugural season of Babble-On at Babylon Nightclub begins tonight, Thursday, June 4, at 9 p.m.
Earlier this year, owners George Medved and Logan Carpenter paid a visit to P*Town Bar, an LGBTQ+ bar and lounge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for its open stage talent contest. Watching the performers sing, dance, lip-sync, and even recite poetry in drag, the pair had an epiphany: Babylon could do this.
And done it they have—but with the iconic Babylon personal touch that Morgantown knows and loves. Enter: Babble-On, a 4-week classic drag challenge, right here in Morgantown.
The challenge will be held every Thursday in June, with a different task each week:
- Week one, it’s all about authenticity. Performers will show the audience their signature drag style.
- Week two, it’s the opposite—performers will play a character to show off their impersonation skills. We hear that Amy Winehouse, Divine, and Lana Del Rey might make appearances, but you didn’t hear that from us.
- Week three, things get trashy. Performers will transform a box of “trash” materials into an outfit.
- Week four, prepare to be dazzled. Performers will put on their best high-glam looks to complement a theatrical ballad.
Right now, around 14 performers are registered to compete, including queens recognizable to anyone who frequents Babylon, like Violetta Violence (she recently got a shoutout from Trixie Mattel for her commitment to the craft), Ann Xiety (a fresh face on Morgantown’s drag scene), and Sasha D’Luxxe (she’s known for being a dancing queen).
Doors open at 9 p.m., and that gives you plenty of time to take advantage of pre-show $1 mixed drinks. By 10:30 p.m., take a seat and prepare yourself to spur performers on with as much cheering as your vocal cords can muster.
Also, bring cash, because there will be a fan favorite section with bags for each performer. That’s where you’ll leave your tips, to avoid interrupting their performance. At the end of the competition, a fan favorite winner will be chosen based on their total amount of tips.
If you’ve never been to a drag show, that’s okay! Medved says the welcoming community that has formed around Babylon is his and Carpenter’s proudest achievement since opening the nightclub in 2024.
And if you enjoy yourself—and we know you will—you’ll want to stop by Babylon on June 13 at 7 p.m. for Morgantown’s official pride after-party. That’s after you’re done at the annual Morgantown Pride Block Party, of course. It’s also June 13, from noon to 5 p.m.
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