ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The popular “romantasy” – a genre portmanteau of romance and fantasy – book series “A Court of Thorns and Roses” is the theme for a winter solstice ball this weekend in Biltmore Village.
The Starfall Formal Ball will begin at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21 at The Event Space at Hi-Wire Brewing, 2B Huntsman Place, right outside of Biltmore Village.
“People kept requesting us to have a more formal event so they could go all out, dress up,” said Robin Knepp, ACOTAR enthusiast and event coordinator for Hi-Wire Brewing. “So that’s what this is.”
The Starfall Ball is named after an event in the ACOTAR book series that occurs during the spring equinox. According to Knepp, Hi-Wire has held versions of the event on the equinox before. Without a spring equinox to attach to, however, the winter solstice was the next best thing.
The solstice will see the most elaborate Starfall Ball yet.
“The first two, they were still Starfall events, but more of a way to gather like-minded people that were into the series and into this fantasy world together to celebrate the characters, and dress up and just have a merry time,” said Knepp.
The Starfall Formal Ball is all of that and more. The event encourages formal fantasy wear – elves, fairies, lord and ladies are all invited – and will be preceded by a 6 p.m. sold-out VIP cocktail hour, complete with ballroom dancing lessons taught by The American Ballroom Company.
“People step into our event space and it’s drenched with string lights, like kind of replicates the falling stars that happen at Starfall in the event in the series,” Knepp described. “We have lots of galaxy lights in the space, which creates an enchanting environment.”
The VIP guests will be joined by hundreds of other participants at 8:30 p.m., when the Night Court Dance Party will take over The Event Space at Hi-Wire. A combination of Medieval remixes and pop dance hits will be played for Starfall guests by multiple DJs.
Leave FOMO out of ACOTAR, though: the Hi-Wire taproom will remain open for the event and feature numerous ACOTAR-themed cocktails.
There will also be a costume contest where two lucky winners will be crowned High Lords or Ladies. Voting will be conducted via audience applause.
According to Knepp, the event is an opportunity for fans of the series to come together and share their interests in a way that costumes and music have a unique power to do.
“Romance fantasy isn’t something that people like outwardly talk about that they’re into, you know? It was kind of a surprise when we threw our first one,” said Knepp. “I was thinking maybe 30 people were going to show up, and I remember it was like 6 p.m. and I looked outside in our parking lot, and it was full of people in full fairy costumes.”
Knepp said that requests for the events have been overwhelming since their inception. She already plans on bringing guests back to the Starfall Ball in the future.
“I’m excited. I can’t wait to do another one,” said Knepp. “People want something to do and they love a themed, dress-up event.”
The Starfall Formal Ball is nearly sold out, but $10 tickets are available at www.simpletix.com. For more information about Hi-Wire Brewing, visit www.hiwirebrewing.com.