PEABODY — Bursts of applause, contagious laughter, and the occasional scream of “Bingo!” echoed through the Knights of Columbus as drag performer and Peabody Veterans Memorial High School graduate, Maxine Harrison, dazzled in a mesh rhinestone suit.

The annual drag bingo fundraiser brought community members together for an evening of performances, games, and camaraderie while raising money for the high school’s Performing Arts Department, which is more well-known as the Stage One program.

Harrison, who kept the crowd entertained with sharp humor and silly remarks, is a 2013 graduate of PVMHS. She said her roots in drag trace directly back to her time in the school’s theater program.

“I attest everything that I have done in my career to Stage One with Mr. (Richard) Carey,” Harrison said, adding, “He literally let us be whoever, whatever, whenever we wanted to be. No matter what it was on that stage, he was like, ‘You go be you.’”

Drama Club Co-president and senior Kaelyn Veltry highlighted that she’s had a similar experience in the program.

“I finally feel like I found the place where I belong,” Veltry said.

Harrison said she began “throwing makeup on (her) face” during her sophomore and junior years at PVMHS, long before drag became as mainstream as it is today.

Since then, Harrison has built a career performing across the North Shore and Boston. She performs weekly on Sundays at Gulu-Gulu Cafe in Salem, and “wherever they let me cross-dress,” she said with a laugh. Her calendar of upcoming events is available on her Instagram, @MaxineHarrisonX.

Three years ago, she won the Boston Drag Gauntlet, a live pageant-style competition inspired by “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

“I take a lot of pride in that because being from the North Shore and infiltrating Boston is one of my greatest accomplishments,” Harrison said. “And they never saw a big woman with a mustache coming.”

Throughout the evening, Harrison mixed natural comedy with lively performances, embracing what she described as her “tatted, glam, alien prom queen” aesthetic.

“I love out-of-this-world fashion where you’ll see me walking down the street, and cars will get into accidents because of how crazy the look is or how shiny it is,” Harrison joked. “I like the big, extravagant, over-the-top costumes.”

Harrison performed in between bingo rounds, raising the energy through her goofy antics, like creating a conga line while dancing to a remix of Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana (At the Copa)” and playing a very believable air guitar during “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan.

The highlight of the evening was when Harrison performed to the “Pitch Perfect” medley featuring: “Price Tag” by Jessie J, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds, “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars, “Give Me Everything” by Pitbull, “Party in the U.S.A” by Miley Cyrus, and “Turn The Beat Around” by Vicki Sue Robinson.

“I thought (Harrison’s performance) was wonderful. The ‘Pitch Perfect’ performance is always my favorite. I was so excited to see that one again,” said Drama Club member and PVMHS senior Emy Sousa-Santos, who won the first bingo round and took home a prize basket.

There were various prize baskets and stickers that the bingo winners were able to take home with them, and there was also a 50/50 raffle.

Harrison closed the evening with “Pink Pony Club,” a song she said carries an important message about acceptance and self-expression.

“People need to hear that song — and the words in that song, too — right now, so I do that number any chance I can,” Harrison said, adding, “People need to be singing that song on the rooftops — seriously. All we can do right now is get together and be happy and spread positivity.”

As audience members sang along, Harrison said the response from the crowd reflected exactly why events like drag bingo matter.

She said that, while “listening to a room full of people sing ‘Pink Pony Club,’” she thought, “I did my job.”

For Harrison, supporting student performers carries personal significance.

“This makes me so happy because this is literally where I got my start,” Harrison said. “It means the world to me… It literally warms my heart.”

The event drew criticism online ahead of the fundraiser, something PVMHS senior Temperance Reed addressed directly Tuesday night.

“Drag is fun. It’s fun. And I hate that people are against that,” Reed said.

Senior Caroline Sargent added, “I think performing arts is a crucial backbone of our society, and we all need to do what we can to contribute to the creativity of people who are up-and-coming.”

Harrison encouraged current students to continue expressing themselves unapologetically, whether through theater, fashion, or performance.

“Keep putting on your eyeliner, and throw on those heels if that makes you happy,” Harrison said. “If wearing a tie makes you happy… go out on the street in what makes you happy because that is literally all we can do right now. Just be happy.”

Maxine Harrison reads out numbers during drag bingo to raise money for PVMHS Performing Arts Department.

Temperance Reed, of Peabody, is all smiles as she plays drag bingo to raise money for the PVMHS Performing Arts Department on Tuesday.

Temperance Reed, of Peabody, marks off a number on her card during drag bingo.

Emy Sousa-Santos, of Peabody, reacts after the last number she needed wasn’t called during drag bingo.

Maxine Harrison checks in with the crowd during drag bingo.

Cyan Reed, of Peabody, reacts after the last number she needed wasn’t called during drag bingo.

Maxine Harrison checks a winning bingo card during drag bingo.

Anna Rabigeau celebrates after winning a round of drag bingo.

Anna Rabigeau, left, and Liz Sacramone have their photo taken with Maxine Harrison after they each won a round of drag bingo.

Maxine Harrison performs a number from “Pitch Perfect” during drag bingo to raise money for the PVMHS Performing Arts Department on Tuesday.

Maxine Harrison performs a number from “Pitch Perfect” during drag bingo to raise money for the PVMHS Performing Arts Department on Tuesday.

Maxine Harrison performs a number from “Pitch Perfect” during drag bingo to raise money for the PVMHS Performing Arts Department on Tuesday.