Z’Sparkle back for fifth year

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By Sophie Pappas

Men in heels prancing down Main Street – that is Z’Sparkle Party Drag Race to End Alzheimer’s.

Deemed a lighthearted and fun event designed to bring people together to raise awareness about a devastating disease while raising money to support the Alzheimer’s Association, this year’s Z’Sparkle in Zionsville is at 7 p.m., Aug. 8, on Main Street.

“I think, obviously [Alzheimer’s] touches me very personally, and I think it does that for a lot of people,” said founder Amy Lacy. “It’s the sixth leading cause of death in America.”

Lacy’s mother died from complications with Alzheimer’s, and thus for five years Lacy has been doing everything in her power to help researchers find the cause and a cure. Since 2010 her group of friends and community sponsors with Z’Sparkle have raised more than $100,000 for the Alzheimer’s Assoc. of Greater Indiana.

“When we hit that mark we felt like our crazy little event had really made a difference in the fight against this horrible disease, but we want to do more, so we’re back for our fifth anniversary.”

 Lacy said that “dragstars,” men dressed as women, and “dudettes,” women dressed as men will parade down Main Street and “work the crowd” to get donations. Community members such as Bob Goodman, Ray Cortopassi, and Zionsville town councilman Tom Schuler are expected to dress in drag.

Goodman has even grown out his hair for the event, and afterwards will cut it for a donation to Locks of Love.

“It’s pillars of the community that are participating in this,” Lacy said. “It’s not an unwholesome event, because it really is just regular guys getting out of their comfort zone to do something great … Cross-dressing does not have to be associated with any kind of sexuality. It is just for fun.”

Lacy noted that even Doug Gauthier, Zionsville Police Dept. Capt., dressed up as a woman last year, and even made his own dress out of duck tape.

“He let people sign his dress for a donation,” she said.

In addition to the parade down Main, there will be a DJ and a special VIP tent in the town lot on Pine Street.  The tent, sponsored by Zionsville Meadows, will provide an opportunity for guests to sample foods and spirits while meeting and mingling with the “dragstars” and “dudettes.”  The cost of food in included in the ticket price.

 A microbrewery beer van, wines and the signature drink “Sparkle-tinis” will be provided by Cobblestone Grill at a cash bar.

Tickets are available online at www.zsparkledragrace.com, at Akard’s True Value Hardware or at the door. They cost $12 online or $10 at Akard’s.


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