Clinton – Annual Ball
May 26, 2009The Clinton Annual Ball has been taking place every year since 1868, making it one of the longest running annual events in Canada. Guests come from all over BC dressed in period costumes to enjoy a night of food, dancing, and great music. This year, the music was provided by the Evergreen Drifters and Gillian Campbell & the Motherload Trio, with many quadrilles and modern ballroom dances being performed throughout the night.
The annual ball was first held in 1868, in the famous Clinton Hotel owned by the late Joe Smith. It was originally organized to help new settlers in the
area feel more comfortable as they tried to establish themselves in the new
country. In those days, tickets were $5 per couple, and guests arrived by
horse carriage. At the height of its popularity, the annual ball spanned
several nights, with couples travelling from Clinton to Twenty-mile, Ashcroft,
Spencer Bridge, Lytton, Lilloet, and then back to Clinton. The annual ball has
survived all the tumult of the twentieth century, from the two World Wars, the Great Depression, and fluctuating economic conditions. Today, the ball
celebrates Clinton’s storied history and its wonderful community spirit.
Originally a mid-winter event, guests would sometimes have to risk driving through dangerous conditions in deep snow; in years where the snow was particularly heavy, some out-of-town guests were forced to return to their
homes in Kamloops, 150 Mile House, or Williams Lake. Thankfully, sometime in the mid-twentieth century, the event was switched over to May to coincide with the long weekend break, making it much easier for those from far away to make the long trip. Once held at the Clinton Hotel, which burned down in a fire in 1958, the ball is now held in the Memorial Hall. Tickets are $75, and doors open at 5:00pm.
My husband and I come from Williams Lake to attend the ball every year. It’s a blast! Dressing up in a period piece is a must if you attend – you’ll look out of place if you don’t! Half the fun is just showing up and seeing how the other ladies look in their 19th century dresses.
What a great site. I am loving it. What is the layout called? Is it a WP Skin?
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