A Saturday afternoon on Toronto’s Church Street is anything but ordinary.
Brunch at Church Street Garage is filled with laughter, cheap mimosas and a drag show guests won’t soon forget. With music pumping and servers weaving between tables, drag queens command the room, meeting cheers from the crowd and leaving audiences craving more.
The weekly drag brunch at Church Street Garage has become a popular destination for people looking for a fun, affordable outing. With no cover charge, low-cost food and inexpensive drinks, the event appeals especially to students searching for budget-friendly experiences that still feel special.
The rotating cast of performers includes Toronto drag queens Messy Margaret and Madee Lovegood, along with Canada's Drag Race contestant Sanjina.
The daytime event offers an alternative way to experience drag culture outside of traditional nightlife. From first-time attendees to returning regulars, gays, theys, straights, and everyone in between, the brunch welcomes a wide range of audiences.
“Not everyone wants to see drag at 1 a.m. in a dark club,” Lovegood said during the Jan. 31 performance. “Some people want drag with eggs, daylight and the ability to go home and nap after. I respect that.”
For drag artists who typically perform at night, daytime shows bring a different kind of energy.
“First-timers are fun because they scream like they’ve never seen a wig before,” Margaret said. “You could drop into a split, and they’d act like you invented gravity.”
First-time attendee Abby Greenwood said she was excited to attend, as she had never experienced drag before.
“I’ve honestly never experienced anything like this,” Greenwood said. “I thought it would just be brunch with a show, but it feels like a full-on party.”
She said she would return and has already encouraged friends to attend future shows.
While the event is free to attend, many drag performers rely on tips from the audience. Performing full-time can be financially challenging due to the high cost of living in major cities such as Toronto.
Students are often searching for affordable social events. Tawana Vushe, a first-year early childhood education student at Humber Polytechnic, said she would attend a drag brunch, even though she prefers nightlife.
“I’d 100 per cent rather go to a drag club,” Vushe said. “However, I would still go to the brunch. I’d go to both on the same day.”
Drag brunches introduce drag culture to new audiences in a more accessible and welcoming environment.
As the final performance wraps up and the crowd erupts in applause, it’s clear the event is more than just brunch. It’s a community space that celebrates performers and audiences alike, all before the afternoon ends.
