The Vampire Ball by Shannon McCabe

I wouldn’t go to this again if it was free. Extremely unorganized and super long lines. The decorations and vendors were a joke. Why would i want to look at a photography vendor at a Halloween party? I saw one «actor» that just walked around wagging his tongue. I would have rather stayed home than go to this mess.

It was just okay. Not much to do other than drinking and dancing. Probably wouldn’t go again.

Vampires, Steampunkers & Pirates, OH MY!
SITREP
What a BLOODY good time at the 2013 Vampire-Pirate-Steampunker-(name your favorite costume category) BALL! Hosted at the Placer County Fairgrounds in Roseville, CA, it was an eclectic & eccentric event of magnificent proportions!
Even though it IS a «Vampire Ball» («per se», as kids in SouthPark chirp it), there was plenty of action for many different themes, and it all started on the Red Carpet experience complete with paparazzi photographers (including me!)
THE SETUP
Indeed — theme was «Dark Shadows» parody, starring Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfieffer, et al, as well as an homage to the 60’s TV show inspiring it.
And this production featured promoter-​hostess Shannon McCabe’s über-​creative «Visionary Living Theme Sets», where guests at the event could interact with live actors playing the characters from the movie Dark Shadows who were in full costume. In some of the sets, you experienced the Collinswood Manor, the docks of Collinsport and the family’s fish cannery. We even had PIRATE SHIPS cause there is that tie in with the Dark Shadows movie with one of the female vampire characters.
VAMPIRE BALL TRADITION IN ROSEVILLE-​SACRAMENTO AREA
This has now become a great tradition in the Sacramento Valley, bringing both participants and guests from the Bay Area, L.A., Seattle and the East Coast.
* Last year’s 2012 Vampire Ball’s theme was «Interview With A Vampire», complete with the Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt cast of characters, and which was also held at the Placer County Fairgrounds.
* And the year before’s 2011 Vampire Ball’s theme was «Bram Stoker’s DRACULA», complete with the Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves cast of characters, though this event was actually held at THE NECROPOLIS (the dungeon space that was below Café Americain) in Old Sacramento. [The Vampire Ball was moved to Roseville because too many people was causing the venue space to burst at the seams.]
* I can’t wait to see what next year’s theme will be! [*crosses his fingers* Please let it be Buffy. Please NOT Twilight. Please let it be Buffy. Please NOT Twilight.] ;)
COLLABORATION OF VILLAINS PROMOTING VILLAINY *& WENCHING)
As alluded to above, the Vampire Ball joined forces with the dynamic teams of creative groups of people:
* STEAMPUNKS!
Such as: (1) the League of Proper Villains; and, (2) The Sacramento Steampunks Society. To that end, the Steampunks had a «WARNING: Point of No Return Area» — the danger being that you were welcomed into a visual vortex of all things Steampunk, but many festival goers found it addictive and were transformed into their new reality.
* PIRATES!
Did I mention there were PIRATES? Hell Yeah! The harbor of «Collinsport» played host to Pirates, the esteemed groups «The Rogues of the Golden Coast» and the «Pirates of Sacramento». Complete with live mini-​cannons! [Look at those cute little buggers in my pictures!] It was a *BLAST!*
MUSIC & DANCING
Inside the large building playing host to our Vampire shenanigans, the MUSIC NEVER STOPPED! My DJ buddies DJs Bryan Hawk, David Vandyke and Duc get the beats pounding and the dance area filled with lights, lasers, and wall screens of color that melted reality into a fantasy of dance, sight and sound.
THOR’S HORSE… ER UNICORN!
Vlad the Giant Rocking Unicorn was again a special guest at the Vampire Ball, and boy did he get his back broken in by all sorts of Vampire & Pirate patrons wanting to ride that bucking equine!
ME! A JUDGE! OH MY!
This year, the ball put the «VAMP» back into «Vampire Pin Up». For some reason, the promoters thought I was qualified to be a JUDGE for the VAMP Pageant. I was all too happy to accept that responsibility (AND it meant a FRONT ROW SEAT which I made good use of to take LOTS of pictures. And I mean, LOTS — dam well uploaded 360!)
In addition, it was awesome to see the return of the 2013 VAMP Pin Up Queen, JEZEBEL (aka Jennifer Mathews)! She was there to crown the new 2014 VAMP Pin Up Queen winner and it was an awesome time.
LADY LUCK CAR CLUB
Celebrity pin up model and founder of the Lady Luck Car Club, BETTY ANN, also returned as one of the pageant judges, along with her posse of beautiful women and their cars! SUCH FUN!
OUTSIDE BAND STAND
It was a treat to see friends Adam Jones & Ashley of the band Savi0r play the bandstand along with the featured headlining band Sacramento’s own, New Pioneers with lead singer Bruce Kubel.
FOOD & VENDORS
There was a plethora of vendors sharing their wares. I must give a shout-​out to my stalwart friend & compadre Nick Roberts for sharing his artistic talents and art pieces for people to enjoy.
KUDOS
Props to Shannon McCabe, Wendy Williams and staff & volunteers for their energetic hard work in putting on such an AMAZEBALLS event!
THE LOWDOWN
The 2013 Vampire Ball «Dark Shadows» by Shannon McCabe was indeed a Festival of Fun for Vampires, Pirates, Steampunkers & Devils like me!