Attending the Starfall Gala

Earlier this year, I took a giant leap out of my comfort zone – I decided to attend a fantasy gala. But not just any gala, one inspired by Sarah J. Maas’s “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series. Having never even attended a regular gala, when my cousin sent me the Facebook post about the Starfall Ball, we decided to attend as a trio. My first question to them was, “On a scale of 1-10, how extra are we being?” Their response: “Probably an eight.”

I set about looking on Etsy to find an outfit for the event, along with fangs, jewelry, and elf ears. I even got myself a cloak with wing appliques. For a moment, I thought I should dial it back because my outfit seemed like a lot. Boy, was I wrong.

Before the gala, my cousins and I took advantage of being dressed up and did a little photoshoot. The moment we walked through the doors, I was amazed at all the beautiful dresses and suits everyone was wearing. Some people even had full-scale wings on their backs. I looked down at myself and thought, “Dang, I thought I was going all out, but apparently, I wasn’t.”

The event featured a night market, Valkyrie friendship bracelets, photo stations, silk dancers, and even interactions with book characters, which was neat. My cousins and I got a good chuckle at the water station labeled ‘Tamlin’s Tears.’ I also enjoyed the pop music arranged into orchestral versions and made a game of guessing the songs throughout the night – I was pretty good at it if I do say so myself.

Overall, I didn’t know what to expect, but it was a great experience. It can only imagine what Sarah J Maas would feel like I stepped into that space and saw her world come to life. And that was inspiring to think that the words of a writer can do that can crate that sense of community and immersion. And I hope to be able to do that, someday. I also wish to attend another in the future, hopefully with my husband so I can feel a little less awkward when it comes to dancing.

If you’re a fan of fantasy or just looking to step out of your comfort zone, I highly recommend attending an event like this. If l else fails, dressing up and creating your own character is fun!

Have you ever attended a themed event or gala? What was your experience like? Share your stories in the comments below!