Calgary drag event continues despite hateful messages, threats

Cobb’s Adventure Park, which hosts a petting zoo among other attractions, had to hire security guards for the first time ever over the weekend.

The park, located on the eastern outskirts of Calgary, is a family-friendly spot that occasionally hosts adult-only events.

On Saturday, it decided to host a show featuring drag queens, and ended up facing threats and hateful messages from people.

“We’ll lose some customers for it for sure, but I don’t care,” said Mike Sheppard, co-owner of Cobb’s Adventure Park. “If you don’t wanna come, then don’t come. You know, but why do you have to say negative things? I don’t understand it.”

The park hosted a drag show last year without a hitch, but this weekend’s event was met with backlash online.

“Everything from the word sickos to ‘we’ve been customers for years, we’ll never bring our kids back there again,’ to someone saying society is ‘screwed’ let’s say,” Sheppard said. “And ‘the only people that should attend that event, should bring guns.'”

In the wake of the threats, Cobb’s hired security guards, paying for them using funds that were originally intended to pay for additional performers.

READ MORE:

• Protesters attempt to disrupt drag queen story time at Edmonton library

• Calgary ‘Pride Marches On’ murals unveiled at Central Memorial Park

• Canmore Folk Fest sees pushback after they cut ties with Valbella Gourmet Foods

  ---

Word got out that the park had to cancel some of the drag acts because it needed to invest in security. A benefactor heard about the threats, and stepped up to make sure the park didn’t have to choose between paying for security and paying for extra entertainment.

“Some good news happened, because someone heard the story of how we cancelled [some drag performances], and they actually called the park and said ‘get those performers back, I’ll pay for them,’” he said.

Sheppard adds organizers consulted with police about the firearm threat, but decided the show would continue as planned.

“When you start cancelling events like this, they win. So you just push on. They’re empty threats,” Sheppard said.

Security guards at the event said they didn’t have any issues with unwanted guests showing up.