Utah Pride brings back Halloween fundraiser
The Utah Pride Center is reviving its popular Halloween fundraiser this fall, this time with a new twist: The HalloQueen Ball. Scheduled for Friday, October 31, the event will transform the historic Salt Lake Masonic Temple into a multi-level celebration of queer creativity, costumes, and community support.
The centerpiece of the night is a high-stakes costume contest, offering a $2,500 grand prize and recognition across a dozen themed categories. Celebrity guest judges — names yet to be announced — will preside over the competition. Organizers say the Ball will deliver more than just thrills and spectacle, with ticket proceeds directly funding the Utah Pride Center’s year-round programs.
“The HalloQueen Ball is more than just a party — it’s a celebration of queer culture and a chance for our community and allies to financially support the Utah Pride Center’s work year-round,” said Chad Call, executive director of the Utah Pride Center. “It will come as no surprise that this year has brought unique financial challenges to nonprofits in our community. Now, more than ever, the Utah Pride Center is depending on community support to help keep our programs running.”
The Halloween event has long been one of the Utah Pride Center’s most anticipated fundraisers. Organizers paused the tradition during the pandemic and subsequent years of financial restructuring, but Call said the return of a large-scale Halloween celebration is both a symbolic and practical move for the center.
The HalloQueen Ball will feature live sets from two DJs, food trucks stationed outside the venue, and themed costume categories designed to showcase creativity and inclusivity. With doors opening at 8 p.m. and the party running until 1 a.m., it’s billed as a 21-and-over experience that blends Salt Lake’s nightlife energy with the mission-driven purpose of Pride. Tickets are available for $30 online at utahpride.org or at the door. A cash bar will be available inside.
The return of the Halloween fundraiser comes at a time when Utah Pride Center leaders say support is critical. The center provides a wide range of resources, including mental health services, youth and family programs, and advocacy efforts for Utah’s LGBTQIA+ community. Known widely for producing the annual Utah Pride Festival and Parade each June, the center emphasizes that its work extends well beyond Pride Month.
The HalloQueen Ball is made possible through the presenting sponsorship of UAF Legacy Health, Utah’s only LGBTQ+ community health clinic. Both organizations stressed that their collaboration highlights a shared commitment to visibility, inclusion, and care.
“At UAF Legacy Health, we are delighted to partner with Utah Pride for the HallowQueen Ball,” said Chris Everett, executive director of UAF Legacy Health. “Attending this event is a fun way to support a vital piece of our community’s infrastructure. The Utah Pride Center creates a space where LGBTQ+ people can connect, be seen, and thrive, and we are proud to stand alongside them in strengthening that work.”
The Masonic Temple, with its historic architecture and reputation for hosting large-scale events, provides a dramatic backdrop for the Ball. Organizers say the space’s multi-floor layout will help create distinct atmospheres throughout the evening, giving attendees a variety of experiences within a single event.
In addition to the grand prize, winners will be selected in 12 themed categories:
- Most Unexpected Reveal
- Sexiest Costume
- Scariest Costume
- Funniest Costume
- Nerdiest Costume
- Best Couple Costume
- Best Throuple Costume
- Best Group Costume
- Best Satire or Current Event
- Best Celebrity Impersonation
- Best Utah Themed Costume
- Most WTF
- Most Campy Costume
For Call and his team, the HalloQueen Ball is a chance to bring people together for a night of celebration while sustaining the center’s mission. “This is about joy, about community, and about making sure the Utah Pride Center remains strong,” Call said. “We want people to leave not only with amazing memories of Halloween but also with the knowledge that they’ve helped build something lasting.”
Event Details at a Glance
- Event: Utah Pride presents The HalloQueen Ball, in partnership with UAF Legacy Health
- Date: Friday, October 31, 2025
- Time: 8:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
- Location: Salt Lake Masonic Temple, 650 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City
- Admission: $30, tickets on sale September 8 at utahpride.org or at the door (21+ event)
- Highlights: $2,500 costume contest, 12 themed costume categories, DJs, food trucks, celebrity judges
Tickets at utahpride.org/events/halloqueen-ball
