Amber St. James on Queer Joy, Horror, and the Return of the Freaky Kiki Horror Ball

By Cesar A Reyes

The Freaky Kiki Horror Ball is more than just a runway—it’s a ritual. A celebration of queer creativity, horror fantasy, and the fearless beauty of ballroom culture. At the heart of it is Amber St. James, also known as Amber Celeste in the ballroom scene—a powerhouse event producer, drag mother, and unapologetic advocate for queer and trans liberation.

“We created this space for the outsiders of our world,” Amber says. “For those most marginalized to come alive.”

Freaky Kiki first came to life last year, sparked by a unique collaboration with Fright School, a podcast that dives deep into horror films through a queer lens. “They had this dream of a horror-themed ball where the horror and ballroom communities could collide,” Amber explains. “I connected with Shraven, the Princess of San Diego Ballroom, and together we built out Fright School’s idea, adding events that offered hands-on education about the culture and community.”

That first year proved one thing for certain: the city was ready. “We learned that not only is there a hunger for more ballroom in San Diego,” Amber says, “but that this city is primed to become a ballroom scene that’s just as lively and impactful as LA.”

This year, the Freaky Kiki Horror Ball returns with even more energy. The weekend kicks off October 17th at The Soap Factory in Logan Heights, starting at 5 PM. Tickets are already live—just search “Freaky Kiki Horror Ball” on Ticketleap. Link is here: The Freaky Kiki Horror Ball 2 in San Diego – Checkout

Sixteen categories will light up the floor, from ballroom staples like Runway, Face, and Performance, to some wild and welcome additions such as Bizarre and Shake That Ass. “All the details are on our Instagram @fkhball,” Amber notes. “This year’s theme is going to push imagination and embodiment even further.”

And no, you don’t need to be part of a house to walk. “Everyone is encouraged to participate,” Amber emphasizes. “House or no house. All we ask is that people educate themselves on the categories they’re walking so they can really show up and honor the space.”

But Freaky Kiki isn’t just about a show—it’s about shifting culture.

“Through our imaginative categories, we highlight the creativity of our queer community, especially in how we queer fashion and incorporate horror,” Amber says. “Horror has historically been a space for outsiders to challenge identity norms and affirm themselves.”

So, what’s the vibe this year? What should people walk away with?

“We want folks to leave with deeper education about ballroom if they’re new,” Amber says. “And for those already in the scene, we want them to feel inspired, seen, and excited for what’s next. We want real joy. We want deeper community bonds.”

Asked to capture it all in one WORD, Amber doesn’t miss a beat: The WORD is “Transgressive transformation.” Because at its core, Freaky Kiki is about breaking boundaries and becoming something more: something freaky, fabulous, and completely free.