3RD ANNUAL HOOPESTON
WITCHES' BALL
28 October, Year 6 Aq.
The third annual Hoopeston Witches' Ball, sponsored by Selu Temple, was held on Saturday 28 October, Year 6 Aquariusches' Ball, sponsored by Selu Temple, was held on Saturday 28 October, Year 6 Aquarius
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High Priestess Virginia Powell, Head of Selu Temple, did a wonderful job organizing this years Witches' Ball, which took place at popular Hoopeston eatery Ruby Nell's.
This years Ball was very well attended with the largest crowd the event has seen yet. People came from as far as Rockford Illinois to the west and Ohio to the east. |
Rev. Don Lewis (as vampire) and Rev. Krystel High-Correll (as Gothic Fairy) prepare to head to the 3rd annual Hoopeston Witches' Ball
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Lady Virginia, in blue, did a magnificent job organizing this years Ball
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Among those in attendance were four of the five Elders of the Correllian Tradition: Rev. Don Lewis, Rev. Krystel High-Correll, Rev. Virginia Bitterwind Smith, and Rev. Ed Highcorrell, who acted as MC for the event. |
Happy partiers!!
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Also present were the Heads of several Correllian Temples. In addition to Lady Virginia herself, who Heads Selu Temple, Rev. Reanna Marie, Head of Enchanted Realm Temple, and Rev. Aine Massie Head of Crystalline Star Temple were also present. |
More happy partiers!!
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Many of the members of these Temples also came to the Ball, as well as people who are not affiliated with any specific Temple. There were also people from the town who came to enjoy the Ball as well. |
Karlisa waits at table for Mary Lynn and Mike
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Our server, Karlisa, kindly skipped a party of her own to work the Witches' Ball. Throughout the night we kept her running with food and drink orders. |
Rev. Don (as vampire) poses with the Insane Clown
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Sadly, and unbeknownst to us, Karlisa has a deep seated fear of clowns. Consequently she was a bit traumatized by the arrival of the Insane Clown -who seemed to take rather much delight in chasing her about through out the evening. |
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At eight PM the Ritual for the Dead was held. Led by Rev. Don Lewis the ritual focused on the Ancestors and honored them at this, their season. A special Ancestor altar has been created at the corner of the room where people could light candles for their particular ancestors or loved ones in spirit, throughout the evening. |
The Ancestor altar
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Still more happy partiers!!
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Because the Witches ball is a party, the ritual was a short one.
More serious Samhain rituals will of course be held by the various Temples represented, but tonight we were here to party! |
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After the ritual DJ Phil Lacey began the music and the dance floor got busy.
The dancing was interrupted only for the evening's contests: the Broom Riding Contest and the Costume Contest. 
Lady Virginia Dances with Death
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In the Broom Riding Contest contestants strive to devise the most creative ways of "riding" a broom. Usually this is one of the most popular contests at the Ball.
The Dysfunctional Couple (Sherry Hubbard and boyfriend Chris
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Death chats with Death
Oddly enough, this year there was only one contestant for this years Broom Riding Contest: Death.
He won the contest. The Costume Contest on the other hand was very popular. |
Always the costume contest was a high point of the evening, the Costume Contest did not disappoint. We had a wonderful group of costume contestants -almost everyone came in costume this year.
The costume lineup, with MC Ed Hubbard at right.
The Barmaid gives a
graceful curtsy to the crowd
Below: The Belly Dancer
shows off her art
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Contestants included Death, the Insane Clown, the Belly Dancer, the Barmaid, the Gothic Fairy and Gothic Fairy Princess, the Evil Queen, the Fairy Godmother, the Gypsy Fortune Teller, and the Dysfunctional Couple. Rev. Aine, Mike, and Rev. Virginia acted as judges for the contest. Contestants were asked to line up and were presented one at a time. The Gothic Fairy Princess won Best Costume. The Evil Clown won for Scariest Costume -he terrorized our poor waitress Karlisa. And Death won for Funniest Costume, because of his antics throughout the evening. 
The Gothic Fairy Princess, winner of Best Costume
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Witch School Chief Programmer Mike Ferrell
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Witch School General manager Mary Ann Kaufman
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Mary Lynn of Enchanted Realm Temple as "The Evil Queen"
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It was a great night enjoyed by all! And when the Witching Hour came to end the festivity it was definitely all too soon!
Congratulations to Lady Virginia of Selu for a job well done!!
Congratulations to Lady Virginia of Selu for a job well done!!