Everything you need to know about the Annual Witches Gathering Charity Ball!
Tell me more about:
When is it?
The 13th Annual Witches Gathering Charity Ball will take place on Saturday, October 29, 2011! Doors open at 7:00pm. We will be holding a Samhain ritual between 8:00pm and 9:00pm. During that time, the doors to Mavericks will be closed but Café Dekuf will be open. After 9:00, the doors re-open for music, dancing and costume contests!
Where is it?
This year, we are very pleased to be returning to our new(ish) location Mavericks / Café Dekuf on Rideau Street in Ottawa, Ontario.
Mavericks and Café Dekuf
221 Rideau St. (near the corner of Rideau and Cumberland)
Ottawa ON
(613) 562-3941
Where can I get tickets?
Tickets can now be bought at:
Crystal Dawn
217 Dalhousie Street – [Map]
Ottawa , Ontario
Tel: (613) 241-2262
Perfect Books
258A Elgin Street (near the corner of Elgin and Somerset)
Ottawa, Ontario
Tel: (613) 231-6468
Tickets for the Witches’ Gathering are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. The Witches Gathering is a legal age 19+ event, valid government issued photo I.D. is required by the venue.
We always save some tickets to be sold at the door, but it’s a good idea to get yours early. Nothing spoils a Saturday night like having to wait in the cold!
What is the theme for 2011?
Every year the Witches Gathering revolves around a specific theme.
The theme for this year’s Gathering is: Demons, Daemons and Fools
A truly fascinating and spectacular spectrum laid out for your enjoyment. On the right: the demons, sexy and terrifying, their razor-toothed smiles dripping with sin and temptation. On the left: the daemons, noble paragons of Greek myth; fallen heroes and benevolent spirits showering us with protection and inspiration. And in the middle, standing between Good and Evil: the Fool. Is the Fool a village idiot, the naive youth of the tarot or the wise fool of Shakespeare? You tell us!
Who will you be this Halloween? Good, evil, foolish or something in between? Crafty or credulous, seducer or saviour, paragon or monster, the choice is yours! Harness your creativity, marshal your wits to delight and titillate and horrify and fascinate us!
Past themes have included:
- A Night in an Enchanted Gothic Garden
- Nightmares
- Norse mythology
Tell me more about the costume contests!
Every year, the highlight of the Witches’ Gathering is the costume contests.
Woo the judges with your imaginative creations on the stage or watch the fun and cheer for your favorites from the crowd. Fabulous prizes and bragging rights await the lucky winners!
This year we have nine categories of costume contests that attendees can participate in starting after the Opening Ritual is finished. Finalists for each category will be selected by judges who will be circulating throughout the crowd during the evening. Finalists will then be asked to come up on stage at intervals throughout the evening where a winner will be selected. Crowd Favorite will be decided by everyone in attendance!
Winners for each category will be chosen throughout the evening:
- Best Theme, Funniest Costume
- Best Men’s, Best Women’s, Best Couple
- Sexiest Men’s, Sexiest Women’s
- Judges’ favourite
- crowd favourite
There are gift baskets for the winners in each category, made up of prizes donated by local businesses.
Tell me more about the Samhain ritual!
The Samhain ritual starts earlier in the evening. Doors are closed for the ritual so make sure to arrive before 8:00pm if you want to participate. The ritual should last around an hour. Doors will re-open after the ritual is complete and the party begins!
Each year features a new ritual with different insights on Samhain. We alternate between a more traditional Wiccan ritual format and more alternative ritual ideas, such as walking the labyrinth. Our rituals explore death and rebirth, both within and without and the lost interval between them where two worlds meet. All rituals are presided over by High Priestess Michelle Hrynyk.