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More Edwardian Whimsy in San Francisco

Scenes from The Edwardian Ball, which transformed the Regency Ballroom into a neo-vintage fantasy world
Feb 4, 2025

The darkly whimsical world of Edward Gorey came to life once again as the Edwardian Ball returned last Friday and Saturday to the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco. Guests, many in elaborate costumes, were treated to music, art, dance, theater, and circus acts, culminating in a stage performance of Gorey’s macabre comical tale The Dwindling Party.

The event occupied every floor of the historic building, originally constructed in 1909 as a Masonic lodge. The ballroom itself served as the main venue for music acts and other entertainment, along with contraptions from Kinetic Steam Works, the Oakland-based art group.

Their magnum opus this time was a handcar track that fed attendees into the mouth of a giant cartoon monster. Guests eagerly lined up to board a “boat” that transported them into the creature, never to be seen again (or so it seemed).

A curated art exhibition dubbed The Museum of Wonders occupied the top floor, showcasing pieces from several dozen artists. One of them was Steve La Riccia, an artist from Eugene, Oregon whose work is inspired by steampunk, dieselpunk, and atompunk.

As before, the Social Hall on the ground floor housed the Vendor Bazaar, where attendees could shop for handmade apparel, accessories, home décor, and other items.

Rosin Coven, a Bay Area music ensemble, presented the first Edwardian Ball in 1999, but retired from live performances in 2023. Despite their absence, the event still offers top-notch entertainment.

Musical highlights this year included performances by Sgt. Splendor, Parlor Tricks, and Inspector Gadje on Friday night, followed by Van Goat and Jazz Mafia on Saturday. (The only downside for this writer is that I usually end up a bit poorer after buying the artists’ albums on Bandcamp.)

But The Edwardian Ball isn’t just about music. The event is co-produced by the Vau de Vire Society, which organizes circus productions, and artists affiliated with the group gave performances throughout the weekend. Vau de Vire also presented the Gorey stage adaptation with musical accompaniment by Jazz Mafia.

Fou Fou Ha, the San Francisco-based performance group, presented an interpretation of Gorey’s The Listing Attic, while Le Cancan Bijou entertained the guests with energetic can-can dancing.

Last year, Friday night’s event was branded separately as The Edwardian Eve, with The Edwardian Ball itself happening on Saturday. This time, both shows were dubbed “The Edwardian Ball,” Night One on Friday and Night Two on Saturday. The entertainment lineup varied each night, but Saturday also drew a bigger crowd.

We were there on both nights, taking photos and shooting video. You can see the art and entertainment highlights in the gallery below, but we’ve also posted a separate gallery focusing on fashion and cosplay.

Event info: 

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