HOT SPRINGS -- It wouldn't be Mardi Gras without the Costume Ball & Contest, a yearly fundraiser for the Hot Springs Jazz Society that always precedes Fat Tuesday.
This year's incarnation -- the sixth -- took place Feb. 10 in the ballroom of Hotel Hot Springs. Jackie Beaumont and Joe Hawk were masters of ceremonies for the ball, for which past society president Bill Freeman once more served as chairman. The event featured dance music ... first by the Spa City Stompers who brought their Dixieland delights; then main dance band Delta Brass Express.
Guests were greeted with a wide variety of silent-auction items on which to bid. They were also given the option to buy raffle tickets for a diamond ring worth more than $4,000; a case of Tito's Vodka; and a case of special-label wine. Also sold were restaurant gift cards worth more than their price of $20 each. In addition, drinks, Cajun dishes and passed hors d'oeuvres were sold.
Sunny Evans and Richard Stephens, Queen and King Jazz, served as its goodwill ambassadors and led the event's traditional dancing promenade to the tune of "When the Saints Go Marching In." Vocalist and former event queen Sharon Turrentine delighted the crowd with one of her selections, while Beaumont belted out a wonderful takeoff of "Hey Big Spender" to encourage one and all to contribute to the society.
The costume contest yielded prizes of $250 each for best man (Izzy Rogers in an elaborate yellow royal jester ensemble) best woman (Kari Bars, in a multicolored "Queen Neptune" costume) and best couple (Rick and Fiona Gulbrantson in Latin-flavored his-and-hers wear).
The ball is the only fundraising event presented by the society. Proceeds support year-round educational and concert programming including scholarships to attend the University of Arkansas at Monticello Summer Jazz Camp.
-- Story and photos by Helaine R. Williams
High Profile on 02/18/2018