Coney Island USA to Host 'Cherry Hellodies 7' Variety Spectacular

Coney Island USA is set to host the seventh installment of the "Cherry Hellodies" series on August 1, 2026. The production, created by Brooklyn-based musician Miss Cherry Delight, promises a blend of heavy metal, burlesque, and traditional sideshow performance art.

This year’s event features a diverse cast of performers, including Pearls Daily, Boya Baddie, Echo Thorn, Queerly Femtastic, Artina Darkly, Désirée De Sade, The Trickster Bruises, Faux Pas Le Fae, and Aurora North. The show will be headlined by Wild West performer Chris McDaniel, marking his first appearance at the venue in approximately a decade. According to Miss Cherry Delight, the production aims to balance spectacle with intentionality, noting that the show is designed to be an entertaining experience that does not take itself too seriously.

Musician Justin Mathews, a frequent collaborator on the project, indicated that the band plans to explore musical genres outside of their typical gothic and industrial repertoire for this year's performance. The show will also serve as a tribute to Chuck Varga, a founding member of GWAR and The Sexecutioner, who is currently battling metastatic prostate cancer. Miss Cherry Delight described Varga as a significant mentor and inspiration for her career.

The event is scheduled to run from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Attendees must be at least 18 years old to enter, and those wishing to consume alcohol must be 21 or older. Tickets are currently available for $30 in advance, with the price increasing to $35 on the day of the show. The evening will also include a raffle featuring items such as a signed photograph by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame photographer Len DeLessio.