25 Drag Queens Break Hot Air Balloon World Record

Picture this: 25 drag queens reporting for duty at 6 a.m., full makeup and costumes, ready to float through the sky in hot air balloons. That's exactly what happened Monday morning in Newberg, Oregon, where local performers set out to break a world record for the most drag queens ascending in hot air balloons at once.

The early call time was no joke. Some queens worked late Sunday night and never went to bed, while others woke up hours early to get into full drag before the 7 a.m. launch.

"I have never seen so many queens up so early before, but everyone is very chipper, very excited for the day," local drag queen Nicole Onoscopi told Portland's KOIN news. The queens spent nearly an hour floating above Newberg in six balloons, their sequins and wigs catching the morning light.

Vista Balloon Adventures owner Kelly Dorius couldn't have asked for better conditions. "We like really calm winds when ballooning, and we're very, very fortunate today with the weather," she told reporters. The cool, peaceful morning made for a perfect flight.

There was one small hiccup: Guinness World Records was supposed to attend but didn't show up. That's why the queens are calling this an "unofficial, official" world record. Still, the absence of official witnesses didn't dampen anyone's spirits.

Poison Waters joked about the unique challenges of drag in a hot air balloon. "The open flame is the only thing that's a little cautious for drag queens," she said, referencing the burners that keep balloons aloft.

Why This Inspires

This story shows what happens when communities create their own joy. The queens didn't cancel when the official record-keepers didn't show up. They flew anyway, supported by a local business that believed in making something special happen.

Dorius hopes this becomes an annual tradition. "I couldn't be happier with the turnout, and I hope that if this is a huge success today, that we can continue doing it in the future, too."

The morning became exactly what the queens hoped for: magical, memorable, and completely theirs.