Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Mardi Gras Welcome Reception And Silent Auction
The biggest party in New Orleans is Mardi Gras and there is no better place to celebrate than in the French Quarter. Much of the area is closed to vehicles and it seems as if the party goes on forever. We invite you to join in the festivities by wearing the traditional Mardi Gras colors (green, purple, and gold) or for the more adventurous, go for the outrageous costumes seen on the streets of the Quarter during Mardi Gras time. Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler or Let The Good Times Roll, French Quarter style!
Check out our Wednesday program for a special way to get yourself ready for Second Line, Cajun dancing and other New Orleans musical favorites sure to be found at our event.
Another convention favorite is back! During our celebration, we will have a multitude of wonderful silent auction items to bid on to raise funds for our very special charity, Special Olympics Louisiana. Many of our popular One Of A Kind doll artists and your generous fellow conventioneers have offered up irresistible items to take home for the highest bidders!
Come hungry to this event because there will be plenty to eat as we will be sampling some local favorites.
Can you say beignets!
The Mardi Gras Welcome Reception is an open event not hosted by table hosts.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Swashbuckler Soirée Luncheon and Mattel Event
Pirate’s Alley is one of the must see locations in the French Quarter.
Legend and lore has it that this was a haven for gentlemen of fortune in days past. Jean Lafitte is the famed gentleman pirate of New Orleans and hero in the battle of New Orleans. Traces of his legacy in the French Quarter abound. Of course we have to include a New Orleans legendary figure in our celebration of the Quarter!
Mattel will be at the helm of our ship as we begin our adventure deeper into the lore of the pirates in French Quarter. Come see what is in store for you. When pirates are about who knows what treasures you may find!
We encourage our guests to dress to the theme. Wenches and mates, gentlemen pirates and treasure hunting swashbucklers, all are expected to show up and are most welcome.
The Swashbuckler Soirée is a table hosted meal event.
Friday, August 9, 2013
The Future Looks Bright Dinner/Live Auction
Jackson Square is a large open gathering area in the heart of the French Quarter. The magic in the air is irresistible as you see the fortune tellers lined up along the back fence of Jackson Square in front of the iconic St. Louis Cathedral. The colorful umbrellas, sparkling crystal balls, and exotic tellers of past, present and future are a daily event in this part of the Quarter. At night it becomes even more festive with lights and music in the air!
During our evening we’ll present the Barbie® Best Friend Award, a yearly event created by Carol Spencer that is eagerly anticipated by all collectors of our favorite doll.
Our Live Auction made up of breathtaking One Of A Kind dolls is
also slated for this evening. The fortune tellers of Jackson Square are predicting a bright future for our local charity, Covenant House of New Orleans, as recipients of the auction proceeds from this fabulous offering!
This evening we are allowing extra time for mingling, admiring the tables, and a cocktail at the cash bar once you’re inside the ballroom. As at all our conventions events, we encourage our guests to dress to the theme. Think gypsies, bright colors, and magic!
The Future Looks Bright Dinner/Live Auction is a table hosted meal event.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Moonlight Ball Dinner/Doll Presentation
As the dramatic finale to our French Quarter Fantasy™ we are following the long standing tradition of the Mardi Gras masked ball.
These elaborate balls predate the first parade by more than a century. Today more than 125 private balls are presented each season in grand ballrooms. In our fantasy we will transform our ballroom into the largest courtyard area still found today in the French Quarter on Royal Street. Imagine this picturesque courtyard with the original gas lights and flowing fountains as a perfect location for our Moonlight Ball.
We strongly encourage everyone to continue the tradition of wearing a mask to this elegant event.
The winners of our King and Queen of the Ball contest will be crowned to begin our ball so they can proudly wear their coveted crowns throughout the evening.
The People’s Choice award winners from the “And All That Jazz” Competition Room will be announced at this event .
Our Grande Finale will be the presentation of the 2013 Convention Doll, a special creation as envisioned by our talented doll designers, Edge Of 17.
Our French Quarter Fantasy™ is over but we are filled with enough memories of celebrations, festivities, and friendships to last a lifetime!
This evening we are again allowing extra time for a cocktail, a cash bar will be available once you’re inside the ballroom. You will have an opportunity to mingle with friends both old and new with whom you have shared this French Quarter Fantasy™.
The Moonlight Ball is a Table Hosted meal event.
King And Queen Of The Ball Costume Contest
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Carnival balls are formal affairs featuring elegant attire and ornate masks. Traditionally mock royalty reign over each ball and a King and Queen are presented. Our Saturday Night Moonlight Ball will follow that tradition. If you want to reign over our ball you must dress to impress for all the events and parties. (Wednesday’s Welcome Reception, Thursday’s luncheon, and Friday night’s dinner). Each conventioneer will receive 6 special tickets in their registration bags. You choose 2 people at each event to give your tickets to that you think best represented that event theme.
During the events and parties work the room and show off your outfits. Collect as many coupons as you can and turn them in at the designated location Saturday morning. The coupons will be tabulated to determine the King and Queen of the Ball. The winners will be crowned at the beginning of the Ball on Saturday evening to reign over their subjects the rest of the evening. Conventioneers, it is up to you to pick the best dressed for King and Queen of the Ball!
