On Saturday, April 21, the University of St Andrews played host to the third annual Masquerade Ball, and it did not disappoint.
St Mary’s Quad, with its traditional Scottish stone exterior, was the perfect venue. Its air of mystery and charm was enhanced with beautiful decorations including colourful bunting, fairy lights, and candle lined walkways. The main marquee, with its two bars serving signature cocktails provided by 10 Dollar Shake, bandstand, and roomy dance floor was lined with an eclectic collection of furniture—a much welcomed addition after hours dancing in heels! The event’s organisers also creatively incorporated a fairy-lit tree into the marquee’s overall design. Outside the main marquee, guests could find a shisha lounge, an Owl Eyes photo-booth station, and a pizza van from Edinburgh pizza company, La Favorita.
Guests arrived looking glamorous and sporting whimsical masks, ready to dance the night away. St Andreans armed with dance partners were swinging to the sounds of the opening act of the night, The Blueswater Collective; however, as the night went on, these authors found themselves bobbing a bit awkwardly to the sound of ‘Rage Against the Machine’, performed by the headlining act, The Correspondents. Yet not to be deterred, we danced through the night and saw improvements when the DJ finished the night with music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s – cheesy classics are, apparently, always a hit with a semi-intoxicated crowd of students!
Overall, The Masquerade Ball was a wonderful event in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, raising close to £2,500 this year. Across three years, the Masquerade Ball has raised just under £11,000! If you missed it this year, then make sure to put it on your calendar for 2013!
All photos by Maggie Nunley
