Annual Masquerade Ball benefits Children’s Village
By Colin Anderson | Photos by Keith Boe | Article provided by Coeur d’Alene Living Local
Keith Boe is a busy man. Between his work in real estate, photography, managing a huge local social media group and hosting special event dinners with area chefs, it’s amazing he can find time to continually throw one of the biggest and most glamorous parties of the year. This October will mark the third year of the Epic North Idaho Life Masquerade Charity Ball. The idea first came to Keith when he discovered a real living castle on top of Schweitzer Mountain while working as a photographer for Living Local magazine.
“While on a road trip late at night, the idea crossed my mind. ‘Oh my gosh! What if we did a real life Masquerade Ball, like out of a scene of a movie in a real castle! Something I’ve always dreamed about to experience and nothing I’ve ever even heard of before actually happening in real life!’” recalls Keith.
The first time running an event, organizers often don’t know what to expect as far as turnout and participation, but people definitely were excited for this particular ball. People came out in droves and the costuming was opulent, elegant and beyond amazing by guests.
Keith thought this would be a one and done event, but the feedback he received from the attendees all but forced him into making it an annual event.
“Year two, we spent an absolute fortune converting the Greyhound Event Center in Post Falls into a mysterious mansion with a Golden Palace Lounge,” he said.
The decorations were incredible with white ostrich feather vases—some with more than 200 feathers in each vase—a hand-painted mural 20 feet high and 50 feet wide of a mansion-grand staircase as a backdrop and the Grand Ballroom with a nebula cloud projected on the ceiling with stars moving across the sky. Tables featured ornate vases filled with branches, dripping with diamond necklaces and lit up with crystals. Aerial entertainment wowed guests as did a secret flash mob scene that broke out just as dinner was ending. Daniel Connelly Productions Troupe jumped out from among the guests at their tables and performed the masquerade scene from the Phantom of the Opera and ended in an epic sword fight on top of the guests’ dining tables.
“Man, you should have seen the guests’ faces when the actors jumped on top of their tables in an epic duel between the Phantom and Raoul!” exclaimed Keith.
For year three, he has moved the North Idaho Life Masquerade Charity Ball to a new central location inside the Coeur d’Alene Resort. Never one to throw the same party twice, attendees will notice a few similarities to previous events but plenty of stunning new decorations, effects and surprises. While not giving away all his secrets, Keith says there will be a few more super-secret flash-mob floor shows planned with actors incognito among the guests.
The Ball will be held Saturday, October 20, from 6pm until 1am. Guests will dress to impress, with gentlemen in formal suits and tuxedos and ladies in ball gowns. And of course, don’t forget your masquerade mask! You will arrive to a red carpet filled with paparazzi and enjoy a champagne reception prior to dinner. A wonderful meal along with tableside entertainment will follow. When dinner concludes, nine-piece funk band Soul Proprietor will take the stage and the dancing will begin. A live DJ will finish out the night as the party won’t end until well after midnight.
While Keith is happy to put on a one-of-a-kind party for North Idaho, the goal is not just for people to have the time of their lives but to help out in the community as well. Keith has chosen Children’s Village of North Idaho as a beneficiary of funds raised at the party. “When identifying a charity, we had only one thing in mind. As a father of five, it had to help our young kids in crisis, and it had to be purely local here in North Idaho,” he said. Children’s Village is a residential home for children who are in need of a safe haven from abuse, neglect or severe family crisis and has helped more than 2,000 area children. Last year’s ball raised nearly $12,000 for the organization.
The purpose of the event is two-fold; One, to provide a dreamlike experience that many of us have always wanted to live out in real life and second, to bring the community together and help raise funds for children in need, something very near to Keith’s heart.
This event has sold out the previous two years, and advanced ticket purchase is required. Tickets can be purchased individually, and groups of up to 10 can also be seated together. Discounted hotel rooms and additional information is available at CdAMask.com.
Keith cannot guarantee he will throw the party again next year, so this could be your last chance to experience the event. Ask anyone who has attended before and you’ll be assured of an incredible experience and a night not soon forgotten.
