Over Memorial Day weekend, while some people hosted cookouts, noshing on hot dogs and corn on the cob, the gothic event of the year was unfolding in the ballroom of the Portland Art Museum.
The Vampire’s Masquerade Ball returned for its 18th event after a two-year COVID-induced hiatus. The event sold roughly 700 tickets and had people attending from across the country.
Think less Twilight tween and more elaborate costumes, booze and daring aerial performances.
The ball is hosted by Lady Raven Productions, which is run by Nicole Stavenau, or Lady Raven herself. Stavenau said the masquerade is meant to be an inclusive night of costumed fun, “because not everyone feels comfortable attending a fancy event.”
She spoke about the importance of making a comfortable space for marginalized people, including the BIPOC and the LGBTQ+ communities, who might not feel welcome at a typical upscale event.
While the masquerade did have a never-empty dance floor with an ‘80s goth playlist that brought out the club kid in all of us, it wasn’t just a dance. The first floor held a number of local vendors who sold things from objectively creepy dolls to jewelry, corsets and even custom fit fangs. Appetizers and small plates were served as the guests perused the wares.
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Upstairs in the ballroom, the lighting was dim and red, bathing elaborate costumes in an apropos hue.
Between bouts of music, performers executed daring aerial feats on chains, being hoisted by their hair or gracefully climbing to daring heights while blindfolded. At midnight, the dance floor flooded with people in their gowns and crowns for the midnight waltz, ushered in by the music of violinist Paul Mercer, who was part of the original midnight waltz in 2008.
The Vampire’s Masquerade Ball, while fancy and high end with its formal gothic dress code (no street clothes allowed), managed not to be stuffy. The evening left like a late ‘80s to early ‘90s club scene tailored for adults who now work important jobs and don’t get to break out the eyeliner as often as they used to.
If you missed the fun of the Vampire’s Masquerade Ball, don’t worry, there is an annual Vespertine Winter Ball held in December.
