Historical Balls & Other Events

Below is a list of upcoming historical balls, one-shot workshops, and costumed social events (primarily dance-oriented) in the Northeastern United States.

For events outside this area, please see our Other Groups page.

For historical dance weeks all over the world, please see our Dance Weeks page.

For SCA events in the Northeast, please see The East Kingdom Event List.

Events are often specific to period and period costume is always encouraged and occasionally required; please check individual listings for details. Some events are gender-balanced - men and women are admitted in equal numbers. This generally means that couples should register together and often single women have a difficult time getting in unless they find a male registration partner.

Saturday, September 27, 2008
Ragtime & Jazz Era Dance
92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY

An evening of early 20th century (1910s-1920s) ballroom dance. Recorded music; precepting by Marc Casslar. A workshop will be held before the dance. Period attire is strongly encouraged but not required. Refreshments will be served. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. A flier is here. For more information, please contact Marc Casslar.



Saturday-Sunday, October 18-19, 2008
Sixth Annual Regency Assembly
Trinity Lutheran Church, 292 Orange Street
New Haven, Connecticut
Sponsored by The Elegant Arts Society

Formal early 19th-century ball with live music by Spare Parts and precepting by Susan de Guardiola. Afternoon workshop (free to ball attendees) in the steps and dances for the evening. Regency-era or modern formal attire requested. Period refreshments will be served. Sunday, strolling in the park (weather permitting) then refreshments and period gaming. Further details and registration information will be announced in August, 2008.



Saturday, November 8, 2008
Armistice Day Ball
Community Recreation Center
1232 Main Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07011
7:00-10:00pm (doors open 6:30pm)
Sponsored by the Morris County Historical Society and the Metropolitan Vintage Dance and Social Club

An evening of early 20th century (1910s-1920s) ballroom dance with live music by renowned jazz musician Vince Giordano. Period 1910s, 1920s, or modern formal attire required. $35 per person, $60 per couple. All proceeds benefit the Morris County Historical Society. A flier is here. For more information, please see the Morris County Historical Society website.



[a Saturday in November - date TBA]
12th Annual Victorian Day Ball
Canfield Casino
Saratoga Springs, New York
7:00pm-Midnight
Sponsored by the Victorian Social Club

No information has yet been announced for 2008; below is the information for 2007.
Formal Victorian ball with live music by Out of Time and precepting by Terry & Jim Historical Dance Preceptors. Civil War Era or Victorian period or modern formal dress is encouraged. No prior dance experience necessary. Elegant refreshments will be served. Tickets are $75 per person ($90 at the door) or $55 per person under 18 years old. ($70 at the door). This ball is to benefit the Saratoga Springs History Museum. For more information or a the ticket order form, please email Betsy.



[a Saturday in November - date TBA]
11th Annual Autumn Harvest Ball
1st Church of Jamaica Plain (Unitarian-Universalist)
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts (Boston area)
7:30pm-11pm (potluck dinner 5:00-7:00pm, waltzes 7:15-7:30pm)
Sponsored by Chris Ricciotti & John Burrows

No information has yet been announced for 2008; below is the information for 2007.
Gender-role-free Victorian ball with calling by Chris Ricciotti and live music by Spare Parts. Period, formal, or festive attire encouraged. $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Ball is preceded by a candlelit potluck dinner; dessert potluck at 9:30pm. For more information, please contact Chris Ricciotti at (781) 982-8042 or by by email.



Saturday, November 22, 2008
Remembrance Day Ball
Gettysburg Hotel
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
8:30pm-Midnight (reception & dinner beforehand)

No information has yet been announced for 2008; below is the information for 2007.
Formal Victorian ball precepted by Susan de Guardiola with live music by Music Americana. 19th century attire required. The ball is preceded by a reception at 6:00pm and a formal dinner at 7:00. $50 per person; advance purchase required. Attendance is limited to 160. A photographer will be available. A downloadable ball flyer is here. For more information, please email John Newbold or see the event website. Pictures from previous years are here.



Friday, November 28, 2008
17th Century Country Dancing at Darkover Grand Council Meeting
Holiday Inn
Timonium, Maryland
4:00pm-6:00pm

This informal event is restricted to day or weekend members of the Darkover Grand Council Meeting and will be prompted by Susan de Guardiola. Social workshop on half a dozen of the earliest known English country dances. Casual dress. Live music! (Why is this event at a science fiction convention?)



Saturday, November 29, 2008
Regency Ball at Darkover Grand Council Meeting
Holiday Inn
Timonium, Maryland
5:00pm-7:00pm

This ball is restricted to day or weekend members of the Darkover Grand Council Meeting and will be prompted by Susan de Guardiola. Period costume encouraged but not required. Live music. Pre-ball workshop 11:00am-1:00pm. Note that Regency events at conventions will generally not involve anything but Regency dance figures - steps are left out to simplify teaching to beginners. (Why is this event at a science fiction convention?)



Saturday, December 6, 2008
Victorian Holiday Ball
Keeney Memorial Hall, 200 Main Street
Wethersfield, Connecticut
8:00-11:00pm
Sponsored by Moments in Time

Formal Victorian Ball with live music by the New River Dance Orchestra and precepting by Marc Casslar. $40 per person ($30 if postmarked by November 6). Tickets are not refundable after November 24th. Formal, period, or military attire encouraged. This ball is gender balanced; couples must register together and singles will be wait-listed. Couples only admitted at the dooor (space permitting). There will be a workshop in the dances from 1:30-3:30pm the day of the ball. A flier is here. To register, please send checks made payable to Moments in Time along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Mary Lovelock, 314 Polk Street, Raleigh, NC 27604. For more information, call Mary at (919) 326-2689, or email her.



Saturday, December 27, 2008
Pre-New Year's Eve Ragtime & Jazz Era Dance
92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue, NYC
New York, NY

Formal ball of the early 10th century with live music by Spare Parts and precepting by Marc Casslar. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Period attire is strongly encouraged but not required. Refreshments will be served. A workshop will take place before the dance. A flier is here. For more information, please contact Marc Casslar.



[date TBA - March 2009]
1880s Victorian Bustle Ball
Pratt Hall, 311 Temple Street
New Haven, Connecticut
8:00-11:00pm
Sponsored by The Elegant Arts Society

This is the information from 2008. No information for 2009 is available yet, but we expect this event to recur.
Formal Victorian ball of the 1880s with live music by Spare Parts and calling by Susan de Guardiola. Dances will include the Polo Quadrille and the "star" cotillion. Scrumptious Victorian refreshments will be served. Costume of the period (bustles for the ladies) is encouraged but not required; formal dress is requested. Indoor-only or cleaned shoes, please, to preserve the floor. No partner is required and beginners are welcome. A workshop in the basic dances of the era (including the "star" cotillion and the Polo Quadrille) will be offered the afternoon of the ball (free with ball registration). There will also be a workshop in New York City on March 2nd. Pre-registration price for the ball is $25 per person; $15 if under 21; $30 at the door. Please make checks payable to The Elegant Arts Society and mail with name(s), address, and email of registrants to P.O. Box 1186, New York, NY 10159. Advance registration is fully refundable through March 22, 2008; after that, credit towards future EAS events or workshops only.



Saturday-Sunday, April 25-26, 2009 [Dates Tentative]
Cape May Victorian Weekend
Cape May, New Jersey

This represents information from 2008, but this event is generally held every spring.
Kick up your heels as they did in Cape May more than a the century ago. Three dance workshops Saturday, formal ball Saturday evening, tea dance Sunday. Dance instructor TBA; live music by Spare Parts. Refreshments served at the ball and tea dance. Period costume is highly encouraged. For more information, please see the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts website.



[A Saturday in July, 2009, exact date TBA]
16th Annual Nahant Victorian Day Ball
Nahant Town Hall
Nahant, Massachusetts (Boston area)
7:00-10:30pm

This represents information from 2008, but this event is generally held every summer.
Formal 1860s summer ball with live music by Spare Parts Formal or semi-formal dress is requested; period dress of the 1860s is encouraged. A brief workshop will be held from 3:00-5:00pm the afternoon of the ball. Contra dances and the Nahant Quadrilles will be called during the ball. $20/person ($10/students) if registered in advance; $25/$15 at the door. Refund policy: with 24 hours cancellation notice only. Spectators (no fee) are welcome - there is a balcony with a lovely view. Well-behaved and supervised children are welcome. Make checks payable to Vintage Victorian and send to: P.O. Box 9, Nahant, MA 01908. The event website with much additional information on costumes and visiting Nahant is here. For additional information, call Ben or Katy at (781) 593-3038 or email Katy.



[A Sunday in July, 2009, exact date TBA]
Victorian Tea & Games
Nahant, Massachusetts (Boston area)
1:00-4:00pm (weather permitting)

This represents information from 2008, but this event is generally held every summer.
Join Katy & Ben Bishop for a tea and refreshments, enjoy croquet and other outdoor games, or bring your Victorian bathing suit for a dip in the Atlantic. There is no charge for this event, but the Bishops would appreciate knowing in advance who is planning to attend. Dress may be modern or any period Summer wear. More information about this event and the ball the prior evening is here. For additional information, call Ben or Katy at (781) 593-3038 or email Katy.