Drag-a-thon was conceived and produced by Emma Mcilroy, co-founder of Wildfang, in response to the Tennessee Adult Entertainment Act and similar anti-drag legislation across the United States.

Participants included RuPaul's Drag Race contestants Eureka O'Hara, LaLa Ri, and Peppermint, as well as Fred Armisen, spouses Lance Bangs and Corin Tucker, spouses Janine Brito and Paula Pell, Carrie Brownstein, Cameron Esposito, Laura Gibson, Frankie Grande, Punkie Johnson, Meghan Klingenberg, Stacy London, Sarah Marshall, John Cameron Mitchell, Katelyn Ohashi, Busy Philipps, members of the band Portugal.

The drag show Drag-a-thon was conceived and produced by Emma Mcilroy,[1] co-founder and chief executive officer of local queer-friendly apparel company and boutique Wildfang, which operates a shop in downtown Portland.

[12] According to Dawn, the host venue's namesake Darcelle XV (who became a Guinness World Record holder as the oldest drag queen performer in 2016) blessed Drag-a-thon prior to her death.

[6] In addition to organizers and venue staff, 60 performers and 60 emcees participated,[2] including RuPaul's Drag Race contestants Eureka O'Hara, LaLa Ri, and Peppermint,[15] as well as Busy Philipps.

[16] Dawn and Mcilroy opened the festivities and Poison Waters kicked off the performances with a lip-sync to "A Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place" by Dolly Parton.

[13] Isaiah Esquire and Johnny Nuriel of 'Izhonny' performed together and solo, the former to Nelly's "Hot in Herre" (2002) as well as "Party Up", and the latter to a song from The Rocky Horror Picture Show featuring live vocals.

[13] The later evening saw a lip-sync to "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" (1982), as well as impersonations of the Disney characters Elsa from Frozen (2013), Scar from The Lion King (1994), and Cruella de Vil from One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961).

[13] Later in the morning, artists performed to Katy Perry's "Rise" (2016) and "When I'm Gone" (2021), as well as pop songs, ballads by Bruno Mars and Shawn Mendes, and yodeling by Gwen Stefani.

Kitty KariAll performed to "Let It Go" from Frozen and Andra Day's "Rise Up", during which she raised Black Trans Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate signs.

The 6am hour started with a tribute to Carrie Fisher and later included acts to pop songs by Christina Aguilera, Dua Lipa, Liza Minnelli, Kim Petras, Britney Spears, and Barbra Streisand.

The newspaper's Taylor Griggs also praised the trio's performances of a Parton medley, a remix of "I Am What I Am", and a song by Caroline Polachek, and described the "vibe" as "high energy glam and a little manic".

[13] Mars, described by the Mercury's Courtney Vaughn as "an absolute sexpot, rocking auburn '70s hair", performed to "Hello Earth" by Kate Bush and "Magic Man" (1975) by Heart.

AJ Nox performed to ABBA's "On and On and On" (1980) as well as "Kill v. Maim" by Grimes, wearing a yellow strapless miniskirt, thigh-high boots, and matching pleather gloves.

Afternoon emcees included Paula Pell, Corin Tucker and her husband Lance Bangs, author Chelsea Cain, and members of the band Portugal.

Other artists included Maria Peters Lake, who performed to a "remake" of "I'll Be Around" (1972) by The Spinners, and Viper Fengz, who wore a leather studded tube top during a set with Olivia Newton-John's "Hopelessly Devoted to You" (1978), "Scorpio" by Bebe Huxley, and Miss A's "Hush".

[13] Amy Ta'Kill did a split during "Untouched" by The Veronicas, and Montana-based drag king Buster Open performed to "Astronaut in the Ocean" (2019) by Masked Wolf.

Separately, Grande sang the film's song "Part of Your World", spoke about "the importance of the entire LGBTQ+ family to stand together", and told stories about Jennifer Coolidge.

Approaching midnight, participants included Nicole Onoscopi, who performed to "Cotton-Eyed Joe" and "Baby Got Back" (1992), as well as Isaiah Esquire, Poison Waters, Alexis Campbell Starr, and Summer Lynne Seasons.

Other artists were: Corvallis-based Cherry Mae; Mona Chrome, who vogued to "1991" by Azealia Banks; and Nicole Onoscopi, who featured Dion's "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" (1989).

Sue from Corporate returned to perform a mashup of "Angel" (1998) by Sarah McLachlan and "Welcome to the Black Parade" (2006) by My Chemical Romance, and Pluto did pull-ups to Cyrus' "Can't Be Tamed" (2010).

Poison Waters performed to Natalie Cole's "Party Lights", and Buster Open wore a bedazzled black blazer to "Pants" by Here Come the Mummies.

[13] Among emcees was Laura Gibson, Howie Bierbaum, and poets Mindy Nettifee and Brian S. Ellis, who encouraged voguing and profanity by audience members.

Leading up to the show's end, the program was dominated by cast members of Darcelle XV Showplace, including: Alexis Campbell Starr, Bebe Jay, BinkYee Bellflower, Cassie Nova, Mr. Mitchell, Poison Waters, and Summer Lynn Seasons.