Thanks to COVID, AddamsFest had to pivot last year. Alt AddamsFest, as they called it, featured favorite AddamsFest fun like the Wicked Windows of Westfield and the Haunt Your House Decorating Contest. In true 2020 style, it also used Zoom for a pumpkin carving contest. Dudley’s Drive-In allowed folks to safely gather in a socially distanced way to watch horror movies together. Because let’s face it, what’s Halloween without horror movies?
But something that was trickier to pull off during a pandemic, and which is why it was therefore canceled last year, was Morticia & Gomez’s Masquerade Ball. Well, AddamsFest 2021 organizers are bringing the ball back —a mask-erade ball. (See what they did with that?)
Let’s check out how they’re doing it, when it’ll be, how much it’ll cost…you know. Basically, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty.
AddamsFest 2021 Mask-erade Ball 2021 Date
The ball will take place on Friday, October 1 from 7 – 10 p.m.
October 2 is the “in case of rain” reschedule date.
AddamsFest 2021 Mask-erade Ball 2021 Place
It will be held on the grounds of the Westfield Historical Society.
Making Morticia & Gomez’s 2021 Mask-erade Ball Safe
The first thing organizers are doing is hosting the event outside. As we’ve all learned, that can help minimize transmission.
The next thing they’re doing is requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to enter.
And while the email announcement didn’t specifically say masks would also be required, it did say, “Our approach in these next few weeks is to proceed with cautious optimism so that folks have time to make plans (like how to creatively transition from masque to mask wearing).” So I’m thinking masks will also be required.
Food and drinks will be served, but taking into consideration ways to minimize contact on that front too, they’ll provide individual portions.
Of course, if there are spikes in cases or changes in health policies, the event could be canceled too. But hopefully not.
AddamsFest 2021 Mask-erade Ball 2021 Tickets
Tickets went on sale on September 12. They cost $125 each.
It’s important to note that they’re non-refundable unless the event is canceled due to public health considerations.
Other AddamsFest 2021 Activities
The Wicked Windows, Haunt Your House contest, and Dudley’s Drive-In will return again this year.
Charlie’s Ale Garden will be held outside at the South Avenue Train Station lot on October 16 from 6 – 11 pm.
The Charles Addams and Friends art exhibit will also run every weekend in October.
For More Info
Visit AddamsFest.com.
Check-In
What would you dress up as for Morticia & Gomez’s masquerade ball? Would you go as an Addams Family character or something else?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
I love Morticia, but I couldn’t pull off a Morticia costume. Maybe Grandmama! Give me a crazy hair wig and some knives for throwing (she’s as good at knife-throwing as Gomez is). It’d be fun!
A knife-throwing Grandmama! I LOVE IT!!! And I’m with you…I’d love to be either Morticia or Wednesday but not tall or svelte enough for Morticia, too old for Wednesday…I’d probably be best as Cousin It!
Now that my books are unpacked, I can revisit my favourite Charles Addams cartoons, even if I can’t attend this amazing event!
YES!!! You can have your own AddamsFest at home!!!!