High Desert Heatwave

showcase. competition. community. | drag. burlesque. draglesque.

Something hot is coming to the desert.

High Desert Heatwave Fiesta (HDHF) is New Mexico’s collectively produced burlesque, draglesque and drag festival — a two-day event with a Friday showcase, Saturday competition, and Sunday networking brunch, plus workshops all weekend, because we believe you should leave knowing something you didn’t know when you walked in.

HDHF is co-produced by nine of New Mexico’s most seasoned burlesque and drag artists, collectively representing decades of performance, production, troupe leadership, and community building across the state. They have founded troupes, managed stages, toured nationally, and spent years making sure there was something worth showing up for in the 505. Now they’re building the festival they always wanted to attend.

The festival features a genuine competition with genuine stakes, a showcase built to celebrate range, and education programming that treats workshops as a feature rather than a footnote. HDHF also hosts a walk-through exhibit on the history of burlesque in New Mexico and is working toward the NM Burlesque History Project — a planned 501(c) dedicated to making sure that history doesn’t get lost.

Full festival launch: 2027. Fundraiser shows: starting 2026. Regrets: none anticipated.

uPCOMING eVENTS
The heatwave team
High Desert Heatwave logo with Zia symbol, teal tassel, and desert landscape illustration
Our next Heatwave teammate.,..2026 Draggy Burlesquelent winner, Lilith Stargazer is a woman with many hats! Backing vocals for Blue J and The Pigeons, Co-founder of Havoc Lillies Productions, Fit pro at the gym, ballroom instructor and more! In 2026, she celebrates 11 years of performing burlesque and looks forward to continuing the education of her burly babes! Up next......Known as the Wigstress of Albuquerque, Katie Karbdashian is a hair-raising queen born and raised in New Mexico. Her electric performances showcase a decade of experience with drag. Katie remains true to her community and Indigenous roots through her art and through her service as Mx. New Mexico Pride 2023. When she’s not on stage, she is a wiz with synthetic hair; her pieces have gained national acclaim on RuPaul’s Drag Race and beyond. Up next from the Heatwave team... This Fourth of July, we're thinking about what patriotism actually means. We added up the numbers, and our years of experience make us Hobbit aged.(That might explain the furry toes)  Here's some NM events bringing the summer heat this weekend! If you want your event featured DM us a poster! Next on the Heatwave train are our two kings! 👑👑 Next on the Heatwave train is our first special guest.... Cookie has been a fixture of the Albuquerque burlesque scene for over 23 years. She was a part of the very first neo troupe in Albuquerque, The Lonely Hearts Burlesque and later Belladonna Burlesque. Now a member of Unicorn Productions. She is known for her quirky acts and custom costumes. And not to mention her assets. Cookie puts it down soft and sweet. She’ll give you tooth aches, just wait and see. She is the snack that bites back