Yo ho! Pirate’s ball to benefit museums, fair.
Ace of Clubs House hosts Pirate’s Ball for TMS, Renaissance Faire
Ahoy, mateys, climb aboard for good times when the first Pirate’s Ball docks at the Ace of Clubs House lawn on Saturday, June 21.
Hosted by the Texarkana Renaissance Faire and the Texarkana Museums System, the Pirate’s Ball is also a fundraiser for both the museum organization and the annual event for all things Renaissance. The fun lasts from 7 p.m. to midnight. It’s a 21-andover event.
Entertainment at the ball is provided by local band O’Malley’s Prayer, Dallas/ Fort Worth-based poetry group Seadog Slam and Dr. Harmonious Scott the Pirate Shantyman, all offering pirate-worthy fun. Also performing are the belly dance troupe Avalouna: Tribal Fusion Belly Dance.
Hollie Black-Ramsey, organizer of the Texarkana Renaissance Faire, says a pirate’s ball has no set definition but this event promises to be a fun one.
“It can simply be a casual gathering of pirate enthusiasts coming together for a night of drink and fellowship, or it can be a large, extravagant pirate-themed gala that’s held as a fun way to raise money for a nonprofit,” Black-Ramsey said. “Our ball is going to be a little bit of both.”
Costumes are certainly encouraged but not required. Semi-formal attire is requested. A costume contest will be held, as well as a raffle for prizes. There are hors d’oeuvres, beverages and a cash bar.
“It will be fun and rowdy (the pirate’s
way), but still with a bit of elegance and class,” Black-Ramsey said.
Velvet Cool, a TMS board member, said the Pirate’s Ball is not a traditional ball. With music and entertainment, people are free to dance.
“We are encouraging anybody and everybody to come in costume, but we’re not going to turn you away if you’re not,” Cool said. Food and non-alcoholic drinks are included in the ticket price. “Then we’ll have a cash bar for those who want to drink some pirate rum.”
About Seadog Slam, Cool said, “If you imagine just a poetry contest where people get up and create poetry on the spot, that’s what it’s like but with a pirate sea dog twist.”
She describes the night’s entertainment this way: “Forms of entertainment that sort of think outside the box for Texarkana.”
Black-Ramsey points out that it makes sense for the TMS and Renaissance Faire to partner. Supporters of each can now support the other organization.
“The Texarkana Museums System and the Texarkana Renaissance Faire are two historically-focused groups that are both in need of more recognition and support from the community,” she said. “By working together we are now able to reach out even further to the community to increase the awareness of both our organizations.”
Cool said the Renaissance Faire approached the TMS
“It was something that as far as we know has never been done in Texarkana, and so we decided, hey, we’re going to think outside the box.”
—Velvet Cool
about joining in on the faire itself, plus this pre-Renaissance Faire event.
“It was something that as far as we know has never been done in Texarkana, and so we decided, hey, we’re going to think outside the box. We’re going to try to do new things,” Cool said. “Right now the Museums System is focusing on getting our name out there, letting people know that we’re here and we’ve got four properties. Each one of them is unique. Each one of them adds not only to Texarkana but in particular to downtown Texarkana.”
The TMS also likes partnering with other organizations, she said.
“It was just a win-win for everybody,” Cool said.
(Tickets are $30. They must be purchased in advance. For more information or to get tickets, check out the 1st annual Pirate’s Ball event page on Facebook and the Eventbrite.com page. More info: TexarkanaRenFaire.blogspot.com or TexarkanaMuseums.org. You can also call 903-7934831.)