Here are a few photos from the evening:

Share yours with us on Facebook!  
 

About the Evening:
Costume Contests   .   Live Music   .   DJ Gaz   .   Live & Silent Auctions   .   Raffle   .   Dancing   .   Historically Inspired Menu
 
VIP Preview
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
This is an exclusive opportunity to be the first to see the transformed History Center, the new Crawford galleries and more at an unforgettable cocktail party.
VIP guests are invited to The Bal following The Preview.
$250 - VIP Preview and Masquerade Ball     $200 – WRHS member rate

The Bal
7:30 pm to 1:00 am
Music and Dancing in the renovated Crawford gallery featuring a full bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres, costume contests, silent auction and raffle with fabulous prizes.
$125 - The Bal     $100 – WRHS member rate

Late Nite at the Bal
10:00 pm to 1:00 am
Late Nite tickets are available from 10:00 pm until the party ends, beer and wine is included with this ticket purchase.
$25 - Late Nite at the Bal Ticket

 

Costuming for the Event:

Looking for costume ideas?

Check out the Photo Gallery for pictures of past costumes. You will also find, courtesy of some very talented students from Cleveland Institute of Art, sketches of possible costumes and the things you will need to create them.

If you want more help, the CIA students are ready, willing and able to come to your aid. They can do everything from design the look of your dreams, to help you gather things from your wardrobe that, when put together a "certain" way create the costume of your dreams. You'd be surprised what can be done with all those scarves and hats you have accumulated.

Contact Becky Carlino at WRHS to be matched up with a creative and talented CIA design consultant.

Costume FAQs

I'M UNINSPIRED AND DON'T THINK I CAN MAKE A COSTUME. CAN YOU HELP?
Of course! First look at the pictures we have posted. Notice that the costumes they wore long ago were works of art in look only. Most of them were made only for the night (very few have lasted through the years). So sewing skills, etc. are not required. And it doesn't have to be fancy - just fun. You could paint colorful flowers or stars or squares or kitty cats or anything on a t-shirt, grab matching slacks and you're done! Or dig out all those old scarves, wrap them around a belt and you have a creative colorful skirt. Toss one around your neck and you're done. Or grab those old clothes you are about to give away and add a patch work of felt pieces you buy at Michaels, Pat Catans or JoAnn Fabrics and, again, you're done.

DO I NEED A MASK?
A mask/headpiece or hat is not needed if you have a costume. In fact, the Bal Masque presents you the opportunity to create an incredible comfortable costume, leaving your face free to meet, greet and eat!

WILL I BE TURNED AWAY IF I AM NOT DRESSED UP?
We would never turn you away. However, if you choose to wear black tie, you will feel much more comfortable wearing a mask, a fanciful hat, a silly boa or some such. As they said in the original 1913 Bal Masque invitation, "The costumes of our guests are of vital importance. They should consider their originality, design and attractiveness, so that they will be part of the decoration that makes the Masquette the most artistic affair in Cleveland."

DO I HAVE TO DRESS IN 1913 ATTIRE?
No, no, no, no, no...unless, of course, you want to. Anything goes. Dress in something artistic, creative, whimsical, comfortable...or black tie. See the answer above.

CAN I WEAR JUST A NICE COCKTAIL DRESS?
Yes, but why wear high heels when you don't have to? Is a black tie really more comfortable than painted t-shisrt? Find something in your closet you don't wear anymore and jazz it up in a fanciful way. Voila! - a costume. We have some very talented Cleveland Institute of Art student who would love to help you turn that dated dress into a wonderful costume for pennies. Then you will be in the running for the costume contest.

CAN I WEAR JUST A MASK?
Yes, but they are so uncomfortable. Why not create a whimsical hat? Or find all those old scarves and create a wonderful new wrap? The possibilities are endless!

WILL A HALLOWEEN COSTUME BE OK?
Absolutely!

WILL WRHS HAND OUT MASKS?
Well, Yes and No. For a $10 fee, we will have a limited number of masks, hats and headpieces available at the door. There will also be a balloon artist who can make you hat for a small fee.

WHERE CAN I GO TO GET A COSTUME?
There are several places to go for costumes:
Contact Becky Carlino at WRHS and she can set you up with a Cleveland Institute of Art student who will create, consult or generally get you going.

OR

Cleveland Costume in Strongsville
http://www.clevelandcostume.com/Manufacturer/5-cleveland-costume.aspx