Harry Potter themed Yule Ball to benefit Ouachita Children’s Center
A Harry Potter-themed Yule Ball will be held from 6-9 p.m. Jan. 6 in the Great Hall at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 228 Spring St.
The unique fundraising gala requires formal attire or dress wizard robes for both muggles and magic folk. In the spirit of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, guests will enter through a maze built by TLI Print where their tickets will be deposited in the Goblet of Fire. Each guest will receive a dragon egg, one of which bears the marks of a prize for the lucky winner. The silent auction is beyond the Black Lake, but bidders must beware of Merpeople and Voldemort’s Nagini who might be lurking nearby, a news release said.
As in the original Yule Ball, the gala begins with classical ballroom dancing accompanied by Marque Haupert’s Magical String Ensemble, followed by DJ Courier spinning rock ‘n’ roll tunes. The Wine Rack will provide special wines and Superior Brewery will brew a special batch of adult apple butterbeer for guests over 21 years of age. Young wizards can enjoy delicious nonalcoholic butterbeer of their own. An enchanted spread of hors d’oeuvres that includes Hagrid’s stout sandwiches, troll eyes, hippogriff on a stick, and golden snitch cake balls will be served by Special Touch Catering, it said.
The Yule Ball is presented by The Morris Foundation to benefit Ouachita Children’s Center, which provides emergency shelter and support services for youth in crisis. According to OCC’s executive director, Mark Howard, “The story of Harry Potter is the story of those who need the help of OCC. Harry Potter was an abused and neglected boy who had suffered substantial trauma in his young life. He was full of magic, but didn’t understand how to manage it until he entered Hogwarts School. It’s the same with our kids. They are full of potential and promise, but they’ve had some very difficult and challenging experiences in their young lives that have interfered with their potential. When youth in crisis come to OCC, we give them a safe and supportive environment and gather the resources they need to have a more hopeful future.”
Tickets are $ 75 for adults,
$25 for children ages 13-17, and
$15 for children ages 7-12. Guests younger than 13 must be accompanied by a ticketed adult. Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.occnet.org. Space is limited and the purchase deadline is Dec. 29. Email magic@ occnet.org or call 501-623-5591 ext. 223 and ask for “Professor McGonagall” for more information.
For those who would like to learn ballroom dancing, special arrangements have been made for lessons on Jan. 4 for $10 per person.
“Warner Bros. Entertainment and J.K. Rowling are not responsible for this gala,” the release said.