Shandy Party closes queer arts festival with ‘Hole-Mania II: The Meltdown’
Story by Mayatu Nova | Edited by Jireh Gil Jalipa
Recently, Shandy Party delivered a memorable finale to the city’s annual queer arts festival, Melt Festival, with Hole-Mania II: The Meltdown. Rosario’s Culture Editor, Mayatu Nova, attended and documented the evening. Read her vivid recount below.
“One pool of lube. One shot at glory,” Image: Mayatu Nova
You’d think a rainy night would make you stay in, but when Hole-Mania is on the calendar, FOMO wins every time.
I arrive with two drinks smuggled in my bag, praying for a “hot girl” bag check (success).
Hole-Mania II: The Meltdown Dance Floor, Image: Mayatu Nova
The bass is thumping and the crowd’s roar spills out onto the street. It’s just after 9:oo pm, we’re deep into the community throw down as a d*ke and a doll are wrestling at the heart of the function.
“One pool of lube. One shot at glory.”
Sellma Soul and Gogo Bumhole command the chaos, leading chants through rounds of slippery combat until “team twink” claims the championship for the second year in a row.
“‘Team twink’ claims championship for the second year in a row,” Images: Mayatu Nova
But that’s just the start.
We’re blessed with DJs who soundtracked the evening like a collective queer fever dream.
Some Hole-Mania II: The Meltdown DJs, Images: Mayatu Nova
Between drag acts (ft. icons Lazy Susan & Lulu Lemans) and a rope performance from Mayu Moto, you could hear heartbreak stories echo through bathroom lines and watch friends morph into lovers on the dancefloor.
As rain falls, it hits 1am and the final act is Magandjin’s princess, Neesha Alexander.
Neesha Alexander, DJ, Image: Mayatu Nova
She’s turned the whole wrestling ring into her dj booth, surrounded a family of partygoers who have been bonded by the energy that makes Shandy feel like a home for the gays for one,
“big f*ck-off-evening.”
Images: Mayatu Nova
