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Shadows Ball: Costume Party & Classic Sideshow Extravaganza

Oglebay Institute is hosting the most wicked Halloween party in Wheeling! Enjoy a night of thrills, chills, sideshow, burlesque, costumes and rock-n-roll at the Shadows Ball!

The second annual Shadows Ball takes place from 7 -11 p.m. Saturday, October 21 at OI’s Stifel Fine Arts Center.  This grand, historic mansion is the perfect venue for a Halloween extravaganza.

Human Blockhead, Bed of Nails, Burlesque!

Back by popular demand, Pittsburgh’s Kabarett Vulgare entertains guests with a variety of sideshow acts.  See glass walking, brain flossing, human blockhead, burlesque, the bed of nails, pain wands and more.

A performing arts group based on Weimer era cabaret and the American sideshow tradition, Kabarett Vulgare delivers a night of performance not soon to be forgotten. Performers include sideshow marvel and boylesque drag queen Lilith DeVille; glass dancer and burlesque performer/educator Macabre Noir, fakir bed of nails oracle Nick Noir and contortionist Zsa Zsa Moon.

Shadows Ball at the Stifel Fine Arts Center features sideshow performances.

Since 2009, Kabarett Vulgare has been making crowds scream with pleasure and pain on stages all over the continental United States. Awards include: 2012 Pittsburgh Freak of the Year, 2013 Great Southern Exposure Best Variety Entertainer, 2014 Burlypics International Most Daring Act, 2014 Burlypics Pennsylvania overall winner, 2016, Burlypics Pennsylvania Master of Vocals, 2016 Burlypics Pennsylvania Master of Lip Sync.

macabre-noir-3

DJ, Food, Drink and Costume Contest

In additional to the sideshow entertainment at the Shadows Ball,  a DJ will provide music and the dance floor will be rockin’. Enjoy food, drink and film screenings playing in the gallery. Be sure to explore the #OpenOnPenn art exhibit, too. You can also win prizes in the judged costume competition.

Our friends at Ye Olde Alpha are cooking up a wicked menu for the evening.  The buffet (included in your ticket price) includes:

•Brain Puree (roasted red pepper hummus with grilled pita)
•Three Witches Cauldron (spicy pumpkin soup with toasted pumpkin seeds)
•Bloodied Beets (oven roasted beets with caramelized onions, goat cheese and balsamic reduction)
•Count Guac-ula (chips, salsa and guasacaca)
•Texas Chainsaw Pulled Pork (pulled pork with Texas BBQ and spicy slaw)
•Graveyard Greens (Mixed green salad with raspberry vinaigrette)
•Severed Bat Wings (chicken wings with chipotle BBQ and hot pickles and Ranch dressing);
•Steak Shivs (guadalajara steak skewers with chimichurri sauce)

 

Take a Look: Video from the Shadows Ball

Artist David John Mega put together a video with highlights from last year’s Shadows Ball.  Check it out here.

Get Tickets

Admission is $35 per person.  Ages 18 and older only can attend, and costumes are required. No entry without appropriate ID.

Purchase tickets at www.oionline.com or call 304-242-7700.

Stifel Fine Arts Center

All proceeds from the event directly support the Stifel Fine Arts Center. Housed in the historic Edemar Mansion, the Stifel Fine Arts Center is a public arts center with galleries, classrooms and performance space. Most importantly, the Stifel Center serves as a gathering place for artists, emerging artists, art lovers, students, educators and families. Programs connect and engage the community in creative pursuits.

Craft Beer Event: “Ale & Improv” Oct. 13 at Stifel Mansion

Enjoy craft beer and belly laughs during Oglebay Institute’s “Ale & Improv” night Friday, October 13 at the historic Stifel Fine Arts Center.

The evening gets under way at 6:30 p.m. Sip six fall-inspired craft beers from a variety of breweries including New Belgium, Founder Brewery, Stone Brewing, Magic Hat and Bell’s Brewery. Savor an assortment of foods that complement the beer flavors. And hang out in one of Wheeling’s coolest old mansions. Plus, enjoy an improvisational comedy show with the talented and oh-so-funny Left of Centre Players.

Armed only with adrenaline and their imaginations, the Left of Centre Players make-up stories on the spot that entertain and amuse. There’s plenty of audience participation, too. Audience members offer suggestions and contribute directly to the action on stage.

Improv at Towngate

Feature beers include:

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin
Not the run-of-the-mill pumpkin beer, Atomic Pumpkin is a spicy brew with some surprise flavors like Habanero peppers and Saigon cinnamon.

Founder Brewery Mosaic Promise “Single Hop Ale”
Mosaic Promise showcases two unique ingredients: Mosaic hops and Golden Promise malt. The the hop’s pleasing aroma and flavor and the barley’s depth of flavor comprise this clean, rich, golden beer.

Stone Brewing Mocha IPA
Clearly, style lines have been crossed. Is it half-IPA, half-stout? Not quite. It’s definitely all IPA, but it’s also the best of both styles, making this love child of a beer a meld of imperial IPA and mocha indulgence.

Magic Hat Zirkus Boy German Style Hefeweizen
An unmatched and refreshing German-style Hefeweizen, Zirkus Boy features subtle aromas of banana and clove along with the slightest hint of lemongrass.

Bell’s Brewery Best Brown Ale
A smooth, toasty brown ale, Best Brown is a mainstay in Bell’s fall lineup. With hints of caramel and cocoa, the malt body has the depth to stand up to cool weather, but does not come across as heavy. This balancing act is aided by the generous use of American hops.

Bell’s Brewery Octoberfest
Crafted as a flavorful session beer and perfect for autumn, Octoberfest spends a full six weeks fermenting. With herbal hop aromas, this balanced amber lager focuses on lightly toasted malt that lends body without too much sweetness.

More Than Just A Beer Tasting…

The October 13 event is part of Oglebay Institute’s ongoing Art and Ale craft beer series. Events take place at the historic Stifel Fine Arts Center, a grand 100-year-old mansion that was once home to one of Wheeling’s most prominent families.

Stifel Center director Rick Morgan said, “Our craft beer events are great social gatherings for craft beer enthusiasts in the Wheeling area.  Guests get to discover new breweries, try a variety of beer styles and enjoy foods that complement the featured beverages.  They also learn a lot about the increasingly popular – and creative– craft beer industry.”

Stifel Fine Arts Center

In addition to the craft beer event, stroll through the historic home and gardens. View the exhibit on display in the gallery, too. The current exhibit, #OpenOnPenn, features street art as well as traditional mediums from artists that make up Pittsburgh’s vibrant Penn Ave Arts District.

Get Tickets

Admission to the event is $35 and includes all food, drink and the improv show. Members of Oglebay Institute receive a discount. Purchase tickets online or call 304-242-7700.