On Wednesday, February 28, SnowBall: A Cool Winter’s Eve returns, and 400+ guests will gather for an all-inclusive and luxurious cocktail party at the Ottawa Art Gallery and Arts Court to battle the winter blahs. This is a chance to get all dressed up and enjoy an evening out on the town for a good cause. Early-bird ticket prices end on Monday, January 28, so this weekend is your chance to get in before the deadline.
The SnowBall is put on annually by the Snowsuit Fund, a local charity distributing snowsuits to disadvantaged local children for 42 years. Over 16,000 snowsuits are gifted annually, and the SnowBall is essential for the Fund’s annual fundraising. Funds raised from SnowBall directly support the purchase, warehousing and distribution of snowsuits.
SnowBall Auction. Photo: Snowsuit Fund
Tickets are all-inclusive, meaning all food, drinks, and experiences are included in your ticket price. The fundraising kicks up another notch with an auction full of local high-end goods and services donated and available for bidding in person and online. Last year’s auction items included sold-out NAC event tickets, diamond jewelry, hockey tickets, weekend getaways, cooking classes and workshops, and many other fun goodies.
The evening is a formal affair, attracting local celebrities, philanthropists and tastemakers, as well as those of us just looking for a reason to get dressed up to enjoy a night of great food and entertainment. Within the combined spaces at Ottawa Art Gallery and Arts Court, guests can move between unique and distinct experiences, each boasting sumptuous décor, chef stations and bars, DJs or live music, auctions, beauty bars, a live art showcase, and other experiential surprises.
Photo: Snowsuit Fund
This year, there will be a zero-proof cocktail station with the wine and mixology stations throughout the venue. Food will be prepared by chefs from Starling, NORCA, Pure Kitchen, Eighteen, Feast & Revel and the Heart and Crown, to name a few.
Photo: Snowsuit Fund
The live artist showcase features three local artists who will be painting live during the evening and auctioning off their finished pieces to a lucky attendee (a bit like Art Battle, but with champagne). I’m excited to see local muralist legend Robby Lariviere (@falldowng) create something spontaneous (and portable) on the spot.
Photo: Snowsuit Fund
This event is a great way to enjoy a night on the town for a great cause and get some further use out of that spiffy outfit you never get to wear anymore! I’ve been kindly gifted a ticket to this event by the Snowsuit Fund, so watch this space—I’ll have more details on the food at the event and speak with a couple of Ottawa’s top chefs who will be part of the festivities on February 28!
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The 2024 SnowBall takes place on Wednesday, February 28, at the Ottawa Art Gallery and Arts Court in fully accessible spaces. Early bird tickets are $175, and the event is 19+.
