The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will hold, “The Mansion’s Costume Ball,” on Oct. 19, 2024, 7 p.m., at the Shore and Country Club, 220 Gregory Blvd, Norwalk, CT.

The Museum will put its unique spin on a practice that Victorians were obsessed with, including Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, who hosted several costume balls during her long reign. Alva Vanderbilt’s costume party in 1883 was known to be the most extravagant of the Gilded Age. The Mansion’s ball will draw inspiration from these celebrated events to raise funds for its educational and cultural programs.

Individual Tickets for the event are $300. Tables of 8 are $2,000.  To RSVP by October 5, click here.

The Mansion’s Costume Ball is co-chaired by LMMM Trustees Lynne Byington and Lawrence Cafero, Jr. and will feature a performance by The Dance Pointe, Norwalk Symphony’s Assistant Concertmaster and violinist Emanouil Manolov, special presentations, dancing, live and silent auctions, and dinner at one of the most beautiful clubs on the Gold Coast with stunning views of the waterfront.

Ms. Byington said, “As we are planning to reopen the Mansion at the end of 2024, we hope that this exciting evening will galvanize our generous supporters to unite in celebration of American history and the arts of a National Historic Landmark and support the future of one of Connecticut’s most cherished heritage destinations.”

For Sponsorship opportunities, please contact Susan Gilgore, Executive Director at 203-838-9799 ext. 112. For more information about tickets, please call 203-838-9799 ext 117 or email [email protected].

In collaboration with Melissa Truelove owner of The Dance Pointe, based in Greenwich, CT, the Mansion will feature a Gilded Age dance performance highlighting the school’s top students who are also part of The Dance Pointe’s international youth dance company. Ms. Truelove is a Greenwich native with a BFA in dance from the University of Massachusetts’ Five College Dance Program and whose work includes performances with such artists as Jin Win Yu, award-winning dancer and choreographer Janis Brenner, and Leslie Partridge.

Mr. Manolov made his debut playing on Bulgarian National Television at the age of ten. Since then, he has performed throughout Europe, Japan, and in U.S. Solo and chamber recitals which have included performances at the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, the Embassy Series, and Weill Hall.

^{Images  |  The Mansion’s Costume Ball illustration and design by Miggs B Design
Center Photo: Lillian Mathews, dressed for a costume ball, c.1890s, LMMM collection}