10/8/25 Bring Out Your Red
Calling All Redheads - "Night of the Walking Red" Troy, NY Wed. Oct. 8, 5 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Featuring "Recessive Jean," a showcase of performance art & music
Join The League of Extraordinary Red Heads for its annual “Night of the Walking Red” bash this fall on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Ryan’s Wake Public House overlooking the Hudson River at 403 River St. in downtown Troy, N.Y.
Raise a glass and toast with hundreds of fellow gingers while discussing official red head business.
Group photo Oct. 2024 by Neil Grabowsky.
Red hair presents among people of all races, nationalities and creeds. But only 1% to 2% of the total human population has naturally occurring red hair, therefore qualifying redheads as among the smallest demographics on earth.
"A lot of times, a redhead will be the only one in their class or even in their family. So we're not used to seeing any redheads around at all—because we're looking out from our own red head!" said Duncan Crary, a redhead who founded the group a decade ago. "It's quite a spectacle to see so much ginger in one place!"
One of the highlights of the evening is the group photo, scheduled for around 6:15 p.m.
Feel the Double Alleles
Photos courtesy of Recessive Jean.
This year will feature a showcase performance of "Recessive Jean," a collaboration by performance artist Georgi (better known as @iamsorryforyourlost on social media) and musician Sean Hoots (front man of the folk, gospel, Americana band Hoots & Hellmouth). The project explores what it is to be a redhead, through spoken word and music.
"Georgi is mesmorizing as she dons various costumes to inhabit different red-haired personas—some of her own invention and others from history," said Crary, who caught the full act in Kingston two weeks ago. "Sean is an incredible singer and musician. Both of them are natural redheads and natural on stage together."
More info at https://recessivejean.com | Follow: @RecessiveJean
Family Friendly
This family-friendly event is free and open to all (even the unRed). Children must be accompanied by an adult. Must be 21 to partake in adult beverages.
Photo Oct. 2024 by Neil Grabowsky.
No Shade Excluded
No shade of ginger is excluded. As the League's website states: "Carrot tops, Cheez Doodle orangies, strawberry blondes, auburn-types, distinguished white heads. All gingers are welcome to attend meetings of the League of Extraordinary Redheads." That includes red beards, friends and family.
Although Crary previously sported a deep shade of red hair on his head and face, he says he entered the "Cinnamon and Sugar" phase of being ginger a few years ago.
"All red hair eventually turns white, like young Kris Kringle to Jolly Old Santa Claus," Crary said. "If you identify as a redhead, no matter the shade or stage, you will be among your peeps at our event. And for one night a year, you can hide in a crowd!'"
Duncan Crary, founder of the League of Extraordinary Red Heads, has entered the “Cinnamon ’n Sugar” phase of being ginger. (Photo Oct. 2024 by Neil Grabowsky).
Request a Red Head Early Excuse Letter
Need to duck out of work early to get to the party? The League has that covered.
"This event starts early, so I started writing official early excuse letters on League of Extraordinary Red Heads letterhead," Crary said. "The letter is quite official looking and high-toned — and hilarious. It's unimpeachable, really, and no boss, or coach or principal or partner can challenge it."
Visit www.Extraordinary.red or email info@extraordinary.red to request an Official Letter from League of Extraordinary Red Heads.
Official Red Head Early Excuse letter.
Redheads Rolling With It
The League of Extraordinary Red Heads has had a few brushes with fame over the years. In 2019, The New Yorker magazine attended the Night of the Walking Red which resulted in a humourous profile in print. That same fall, author George R.R. Martin famously posed with the League for "A Game of Gingers" holiday card and was made an official card-carrying "Honorary Member" of the League.
In 2022, the League inducted (remotely) Rick Astley into the Red Head Hall of Fame. Astley recorded a special video message from his home in England to play for the group's meeting in Troy. Crary said the pop singer is a role model for gingers—some of whom are bullied in their youth but all of whom will inevitably find themselves put on the spot for being a redhead at one point in their life.
"It was obvious that underlying the 'Rickrolling' meme was the fact that Rick Astley has bright red hair in the music video. But it didn't devolve into bullying, I think, because Rick Astley just leaned into the whole thing like a champ," Crary said. "I founded the League in a similar spirit. We lean into every redhead joke and flip the script so that we control the narrative. It's a good example to set for the young redheads who attend."
Members vote to induct Rick Astley into the League of Extraordinary Red Heads Hall of Fame (Photo Oct. 2022 by Neil Grabowsky)
Debunking Misinformation About Redheads
One persistent myth about redheads is that they are going extinct. That misinformation was fed to gullible members of the press by a research project backed by a hair dye manufacturer, Crary notes. Major media outlets further sensationalized the fake news with headlines comparing redheads to polar bears.
Another myth is that redheads never date other redheads.
"We're not going extinct, no matter what you read or heard," Crary said. "And there are plenty of happily-coupled redheads in the world. One of the families that attends our gatherings every year is entirely ginger— mom, dad, and three kids, like a real life version of the Weasley family from Harry Potter!"
Everyone in the Knott Family is a red head. (Photo 2024 by Neil Grabowsky)
About The LoERH
The League of Extraordinary Red Heads was formed in January 2013 as a social get-together for those with reddish hair sprouting from their scalps and chins.
Headquartered in Troy, New York (a.k.a. “Ginger City, USA“), The League assembles once a year under the guise of conviviality. Carrot tops, Cheez Doodle orangies, strawberry blondes, auburn-types, distinguished white heads … all gingers are welcome to attend meetings of the League of Extraordinary Red Heads — and that includes transgingers, redbeards, friends and family of the fiery follicled, too!
The League's ranks include award-winning authors and journalists, college presidents, politicians, mirth-makers, lawyers, biker dudes, farmers, activists, inactivists, actors, barflies, giants, wee people and folks from all walks of life.
Previous year’s events have attracted more than 200 redheads!!
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