On Saturday, Feb. 2, the Period Events and Entertainments Re-creation Society (PEERS) will be hosting a fantasy costume ball inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit.” Titled the Rivendell Revels, the ball will be held at the Masonic Hall in San Mateo, Calif., and will be recreating the dwarves and Bilbo Baggins’s first visit to Rivendell in “The Hobbit.”
For costume inspiration, look no further than Peter Jackson’s popular “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy of movies as well as his recent “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”. A good reference for quick costumes based on these films is the Closet Quick Ideas section of the Alley Cat Scratch costuming web site. Other fantasy costumes are also appropriate. Additional costume suggestions include Medieval, Renaissance, Middle Eastern or even Victorian styles, the latter of which is reminiscent of what Hobbits wear. Modern evening dress is perfectly acceptable and there is no dress code for the ball.
If you will be bringing props that represent weapons, make sure they’re peace-bonded for everyone’s safety. Also, if you’re planning on dancing, wear shoes or boots you can actually dance comfortably in as dancing barefoot, Hobbits do take note, is not advisable at a crowded event.
Dances will include waltzes, polkas, mazurkas, reels, set dances and country dances. Some of the choreographed dances will be taught and called at the ball. There will also be a pre-ball dance class at 7:00 p.m. and formal dancing will begin at 8:00 p.m.
Popular Celtic Fusion and Renaissance rock band Avalon Rising will be providing the live dance music. They will also be performing special Tolkien-inspired songs.
Tickets will be available at the door at $20.00 each. If you have any questions, email peers@peers.org or post it on the PEERS Facebook group (after joining it).
Copyright 2013, Jean Martin.
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