Hot Girl Halloween Lights Up The Rainbow Ballroom

Rainbow Ballroom is a venue that has been on my list to visit for a while. I had no expectations walking inside, but was welcomed with plenty of sights and sounds. Based on older pictures I found, a new stage, flooring, lounge areas, and more screens were all updated inside. It felt like stepping into a luxury club.

Attendees began to trickle in when doors opened at 9. All of the screens inside had an hour countdown until the music was set to start.

Witches and superheroes and construction workers (oh my!) and many other costumes quickly filled up the main stage. A couple dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Fox from The Fantastic Mr. Fox caught my attention, so I complimented their costumes and asked what they expected from tonight.

“Yeah, we’ve never been to this event before, but it’s cool!” shared Joseph Quintela (or Mr. Fox).

“A couple of friends invited us here, and we thought it was a good opportunity to check out Rainbow Ballroom. I think for people who haven’t been here before, it’s a great way to find connection and relate to new people,” Elyse Macias stated (or Mrs. Fox).

Before wrapping up their interview, I gave Elyse a Setlist sticker, and she gave me a beaded bracelet with little letters that spelled out “BAD BITCH.”

DJ Inspire was the first to take the stage when the clock struck 10. It was a blend of cumbia, reggaeton, and hip-hop beats that started off the night to hype up the crowd.

Once the crowd warmed up, DJ Luke Nasty hit the stage, performing his laid-back style of music. This North Carolina-based performer played hits such as “Might Be” and “OTW” which were tracks that highlight his chill sounds.

“Every time I come to the West Coast, it’s all love, everybody was vibing. [The hosts] told me this is the first time Hot Girl Halloween took place at this spot, so it was probably a lot of people’s first time here. I feel like I’m celebrating with them.”

Nasty shared that this wasn’t his first time playing in Fresno and that he hopes attendees get a sense of nostalgia from his set.

At around midnight, Kay Rich hit the stage, where he gave an energetic performance. He hyped up the crowd, along with DJ Inspire, to multiple hip-hop and R&B classics. His energy matched the audience throughout his set until he announced the secret guest.

Bay Area rapper Sage the Gemini walked out to a roaring crowd. Kay Rich continued emceeing as Sage the Gemini played his hits “Gas Pedal”, “Red Nose”, and other club classics. The energy between Rich, Gemini, Inspire, and the crowd felt seamless. Inspire was in charge of supplying the music, Rich was helping hype up the crowd, Gemini was performing his hits, and the crowd was singing the lyrics along with them.

“I’ve been performing in Fresno many times, since I was 19 years old. It’s always a vibe,” Gemini shared. “I like the energy when I perform… when [people from Fresno] are out here, they’re acting like, ‘We’ve been waiting for this for all of our lives,’ and I love that.”

And from what Gemini noticed, it felt just like that on that night. When California-based R&B singer Eric Bellinger began his set, the crowd sang and danced as if they were expecting this show for their whole lives. Although this event took place in a newly remodeled spot, the Fresno energy remained the same as it would have been if it had taken place at Chukchansi Park.

“Tonight, Hot Girl Halloween is one of those [events] where I want people to leave and be able to say, ‘That’s a party that I’ve never experienced before, that’s the most fun I’ve ever had,’” Rich stated.

Be sure to check out more information about the next Hot Girl Halloween event on their Instagram page, @hotgirlhalloweenfresno