It’s alive! This August 30th, Frankenstein Day is coming to life in a way only South Florida LGBTQ community could pull off — with a beachside horror bash under the stars. The Wilton Manors Horror Hunks, Scream Queens, and Occult Nonconforming, a community committed to fostering genuine connections among the LGBTQ+ people in Wilton Manors and Greater South Florida, is inviting the queers to Fort Lauderdale Beach to celebrate World Frankenstein Day.
The event will honor Mary Shelley’s groundbreaking 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus with a night that mixes camp, cinema, and a candlelit seaside picnic. For many queer people, Frankenstein is part of queer history. Shelley herself was believed to be bisexual and lived among radicals and nonconformists, surrounded by people who challenged gender and sexual norms. And her creation has long resonated with queer audiences as a symbol of the outsider, longing for love and recognition in a world that rejects difference.
Hollywood’s imprint made it even gayer. Director James Whale, an openly gay filmmaker in the 1930s, infused Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein with camp, wit, and a subversive edge that critics now read as queer-coded. Whale’s Bride of Frankenstein, especially, has become a cult favorite. The event kicks off at 7:30 PM, with movies starting at 8 pm across from Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.
Organizers are promising a double feature screening of the iconic Frankenstein (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935), with Son of Frankenstein possibly rounding out the night for anyone who can hang until the witching hour. August 30 also happens to be World Toasted Marshmallow Day, World Beach Day, and World Bacon Day. So, organizers are also encouraging attendees to bring potluck goodies ranging from “Bacon-Wrapped Monster Bites” to “Toasted Mallow Mummies.”
A costume contest will also be held on the same day to crown the best Frankenstein, Bride, or Mad Scientist with prizes. More information about the entry and the event will be available on Instagram @WiltonHSO
