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JACKSONVILLE Victorian Ball will kick off holiday season Comment By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News JACKSONVILLE — A Victorian Ball with participants in period costume and traditions of the era will be held Nov. 7 in the 1880 US Hotel Ballroom to start the holiday season. Belles and Beaus Old West/Victorian Society’s event will be a benefit for the city-owned 1873 Beekman House. New Year’s balls were held by the group from 2005 to 2007. “We just felt like it would be splendid to have a ball in Jacksonville,” said Sharon Becker, president of Belles and Beaus. “We talked about it with Jacksonville people. They thought it was a good idea. It gets people in the mood for the holidays.” Each couple will be announced as they enter the ballroom. A traditional Victorian Grande March, a parade around the ballroom, will mark the start of the ball at 8 p.m. “It was a way for the participant to present themselves to their fiends and the rest of the hall. Ladies go to show off their dresses,” said Ann Wilton of Ashland. “It’s usually marching music, a walking thing. Gentlemen escorted the ladies.” Southern Oregon Olde Tyme Fiddlers will provide music for the evening. They have learned Victorian pieces especially for the event. There were a lot of dances at Victorian parties, including waltzes and polkas, said Wilton, who will offer instruction during the evening. “There’s also something called the quadrille. They were what you called a set dance, a little bit like square dancing, with ladies on one side and gentlemen on the others,” said Wilton. Reels were also popular, he noted. “Most of these dances that got over to America started in England. It was what the queen liked,” Wilton said of Queen Victoria. “She liked to dance. Whatever she wanted to dance, that's what everybody wanted to dance.” Club members will be in period dress while those without costumes may wear evening attire. “Everyone (in the group) has costumes. I have two closets full,” said Becker. Costumes range from the 1850s gold rush to the 1920s. “Some of the ladies sew their own. Others buy things in thrift stores and remake them into period pieces,” Beeker explained. “Online there are a lot of sites on costume gowns and men’s wear.” Men will wear top hats, white gloves and carry canes. Becker’s husband, Jacksonville Mayor Paul Becker, will be among those in Victorian garb for the event. Besides having a good time at dress-up events during the year, group members also show up in appropriate costumes for Victorian Christmas weekends, parades, an Easter promenade, fashion shows, cemetery tours and other town events. More than 50 people are members of the group. Working with Becker to plan the event are Audra Kenyon and Sylvie DeBussey of Jacksonville and Jackie Craig of Central Point. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and there will be an array of banquet hors d’oeuvres catered by the Jacksonville Inn. A cash bar will include special Victorian drinks created for the event. Cost of the ball is $55 per person. Those wishing to attend should contact Becker at 541-326-6832 to get their names on the list before sending payment to the club at P.O. Box 1073, Jacksonville, 97530. Only 100 tickets are available. Tony Boom is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 27, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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