About this Event
TRASH BASH: A Bug Drag Show & Pop-Up Market Fundraiser
Join us on April 25th to celebrate Earth Day and our 4-year anniversary with a chaotically inspired, bug-themed drag show and pop-up market.
Every dollar you contribute goes straight to our sanctuary and wildlife rehab work. Tickets start at a $40 donation, and we’ve set a goal of $10,000 to fund our busiest time of year: wildlife baby season! This is when we rescue, heal, and release orphaned and injured critters back into the wild. If you'd like to help us hit our target, we’ll be accepting extra donations at the door. Please see the ticket notes section below for more details.
Important Details:
- April 25, 2026 | 6–10 PM (Show at 7 PM)
- Come as you are or rock your most outrageous recycled, upcycled, or "trash-inspired" looks. If your feeling daring, strut your stuff in our Trash Outfit Contest for a chance to win prizes!
Let’s celebrate four years of community, curiosity, and critters!
What to expect:
- Bug-themed drag performances by,, , , and
- Live music by and
- Pop-up market featuring: Charms by Diablo Jewelry, Screenprints and collages by , Mexican sweets by , Artwork by , candles by
- Free art-making station hosted by the
- Free sexual health resources from
- Trash Outfit Contest with prizes
- Raffle supporting our sanctuary animals. Raffle prizes include art, and tattoo sessions with Adele & Davi (must be 18+)
- Tickets come with a drink and a goodie-bag
This is an 18+ event. Every dollar raised helps us rescue animals in need. With baby season approaching, we are fundraising for veterinary care, specialty formulas, and other essentials required for our wildlife rehabilitation work. We are so excited to celebrate four years of community, curiosity, and critters with you!
Ticket Notes & Accessibility
- Base Ticket: $40 (plus fees/taxes). To meet our $10,000 goal, we invite those with the capacity to give more to join our mission, on average, each wildlife intake costs us $500 per animal and we get hundreds of calls each season.
- $200+ Donation: If you can afford to donate $200 or more, you will receive a free cicada, butterfly, or beetle pinning class token to be used in the future and a VIP upgraded goodie bag.
- Avoid Fees: You can add to your donation at check-in (Cash, CC, Venmo, or Zelle) to ensure 100% goes to the animals. You can also purchase tickets in person at the museum or by phone at 312-961-7219.
- Pay it Forward: Help another member of the community attend by purchasing a "Pay it Forward" add-on. Any unused funds go directly to our wildlife veterinary care fund.
- Financial Support: If the ticket cost is a barrier, please reach out via email. We have launched a "Pay-it-Forward" program for this event to help get the whole community involved!
- Seating: Please note that seating is very limited and reserved for those with medical requirements. We have only five seated tickets available, so we ask that you only select this option if needed. Otherwise, plan to enjoy the show while standing or seated on the floor.
- Most of the event will be on our main floor which is accessible, however our craft station will be located up one flight of stairs, if you are unable to do a flight of stairs and would still like to do the craft for the evening please email us at [email protected] in advance so we can plan accordingly.
- We will have colored lighting, that may shift or move at this event but there will be no strobing lights. (our goal is for an epilepy safe experince)
Due to the nature of this event there will be no refunds, if you are unable to attend after your ticket purchase transfers are allowed by sharing the original purchaser's confirmation.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Insect Asylum, 2870 N Milwaukee Ave, chicago, United States
USD 0.00 to USD 49.19
