By JESSE GRAHAM
PUT on your best mask and get ready for a night on the town, because a special mid-winter ball is only weeks away.
On Saturday 28 June, the doors to Healesville’s Memo Hall will be opened for mask-wearing dance-goers, for a masquerade ball.
The ball will begin at 8pm and run through until 11pm, with seven-piece swing band, Steve Purcell’s Pearly Shells Orchestra, playing three sets of old-time music for visitors to dance to.
Michelle Redman is organising the event with Yarra Valley Arts, and said the idea came off the back of Healesville’s 150th birthday organisations.
She said the focus of the night was simply to get dressed up, put on a mask and have a great night out.
“The aim is to dance,” she said.
“The band hits the first notes and people will swamp (the floor) and dance.
“There’s this whole energy about having a really good time, and my aim is to get back to the pure joy of it.”
Ms Redman said the event is ‘BYO nibbles’, which pays homage to old-style balls where people would bring some food and drink to enjoy between the band’s sets.
She said if the evening was a success, she would like to see the mid-winter ball become an annual event for the town.
A workshop to assist residents in making their own masquerade mask will be held at the Memo on 14 June from 11.30am-1.30pm, and all ball-goers are invited to come along.
Materials for masks will be provided, and Ms Redman and other event organisers will assist people in creating masks, free of charge.
The Healesville Mid-winter Masquerade Ball will be held on 28 June from 8pm at Healesville’s Memo Hall.
BYO alcohol is not permitted, but alcohol will be available from the venue on the evening.
Tickets are $42.50, and bookings are essential – to book tickets visit ach.yarraranges.vic.gov.au or call 1300 368 333. For more information on the ball and other events for Healesville’s 150th birthday, visit www.healesville150.org
