What a Party (with a Purpose)!

(Valerie Damon and June Hegadus)

My experience (as ESSA's director) of the Mad Hatter Ball is probably quite different than most. My favorite part of the entire evening is the first hour when I am not crazy busy, and I greet all the wonderful hat people as they enter the welcoming double doors of the Crescent Hotel. Amazing creations make art come alive!

Then, my evening becomes somewhat of a blur... One entertaining event is a hat contest. Check out this felt castle worn by our guest, Chaffyn! He won the juried hat award. Asia Cole, local artist, created the felted wonder. Lucilla Garrett won the 'People's Choice" award. I'm still searching for a good picture of her to post. She was quite busy in the silent auction room that evening and not always accessible for photo shoots.

Speaking of our silent auction... WOW! We had beautiful works of art and several adventurous packages for bidding. We held the silent auction in the Crescent Hotel Conservatory which is down the hall from the Crystal Dining room, where we held the Ball - dining and dancing for everyone. I enjoy watching the constant traffic between the two room... reminds me of the foot traffic marching across the London Bridge at 8am, except the costumes are not near as colorful. :-)

Speaking of colorful, at least one Razorback fan always shows up in red. This year, Bill Carmichael, did the honors.


So, we had a grand success and I thank all of you fun hat people for participating in our fundraiser... party with purpose... Mad Hatter Ball!

7th Annual Mad Hatter Ball features Lifetime Mad Hatter!

2005 Mad Hatter Ball, Valerie Damon

Valerie Damon, a talented children’s author, illustrator, publisher, and Eureka Springs School of the Arts instructor, has graced our area with her wonderful presence for many decades. She has shared her gift of creativity and imagination with the fantastic costumes she has charmed the Eureka Springs School of the Arts (ESSA) Mad Hatter Ball with for the past four years.

2008 Mad Hatter Ball, Valerie Damon

In 2008, Valerie won the “People’s Choice” award for her “Victorian Bride Corpse” costume, and has won, hands down, best hat and costume in previous years. Her body art of face painting and costuming have been one of the highlights of the Mad Hatter Ball for several years. With that in mind, ESSA Executive Director, Peggy Kjelgaard and ESSA Board Members have decided to pay tribute to Valerie with a special “Lifetime Mad Hatter” award at the Seventh Annual Mad Hatter Ball on Friday, October 23rd at 6:30 p.m. at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs.

2007 Mad Hatter Ball, Valeried Damon

Please plan to attend ESSA’s ‘party with a purpose’ and participate in this year’s hat contest! Valerie will be there to present both the juried and people’s choice award. For only $60 per ticket you can enjoy a delicious Italian pasta buffet, dance to the music of the Big ‘Uns, and bid on silent auction items, all to benefit ESSA. You may purchase tickets at the door the night of the event or beforehand by calling 479-253-5384.

2006 Mad Hatter Ball, Valerie Damon

And, the legend lives on...