Under a spell

Oh my goodness, the Charlottetown Library Learning Foundation was at it again! They put together a super fun evening early this October: an Enchanted Book Lovers Ball. 

Does that title make you excited like me, or are you without whimsy and literary love? Maybe you missed getting tickets because it completely sold out! Which is stellar to see because it was a fundraiser in support of the Charlottetown Library and we all know I am a huge library fan. They run so many great programs and the world is ever shorter on safe third spaces. So I love to support whatever supports them!

These types of balls are happening in a number of places around the world though. It’s costumes, but with the element of more formal attire. You emulate a favoured character or genre and dress as you envision they would be going to a ball. There are few trends I get behind, but this is dreamy and cool. 

There are a few characters I routinely get compared to, mostly because those stories were turned into shows. I don’t see it, but it’s flattering; unfortunately, none suited the dress in my closet I never get to wear. Nor did any of my personal favourite story characters. So I made up a kind of time traveller with a steampunk-leaning persona and off we went to dance the heels straight off my old boots. 

The back auditorium was totally transformed into a warmly lit, fantasy vibe lounge. The entry had a giant beautiful flowery arch and tables off to the sides had fairy light trees and moss centerpieces. The windows had their blackout curtains drawn and the sills were stacked with flameless candles on mossy beds. There was a free coat check, cash bar with lovely human staff, and the DJ was taking requests. So the music was quite varied, unpredictable really, I danced super hard whether I liked the song or not, and I was not alone. A majority of Middle Earth and the Queen of Andor were there.

The whole hallway and entire front of the library was a night market. The lighting up there was a bit spottier and less ambient, but the organizers recognized it and made a note for future tweaking. The market could be attended separately from the ball as well for a five dollar fee. There were a number of more niche vendors I don’t regularly see at other markets sporting their wares and crafts too.

I have to especially shout out the gems at Just Say Cheese Photobooth. They came dressed up, as Mary Poppins and a chimney sweep, they radiated positivity the entire time with a constant line up of people for hours. The setup is really cool, with the photos texted to you, as well as a copy printed instantly for every member of your group and then available in group cloud later too so you could get a good look at all the costumes. I would totally hire them for an event.