Billed as the city's "Best Mardi Gras Party," Party Gras returns for its second year as the primary fundraiser for the Hot Springs Jazz Society.
While the organization has held a Mardi Gras event for many years, the name was changed last year when it was moved to Vapors Live.
"Last year was the first year that we collaborated with the Vapors on it, hence the change of name," Jazz Society President Valerie Tobin said.
In addition to three musical acts, the event will have a cash bar and plenty of food.
"The Village Big Band is going to play," Tobin said. "We'll have all the decorations, that sort of thing. We're going to have casino gambling. The Civitans are doing that. We'll do blackjack, craps and roulette, and a silent auction, which benefits the Jazz Society. So dancing and Second Line and celebratory music -- those kinds of things."
Video not playing? Click here https://www.youtube.com/embed/xRl6R2tcz2s
The Village Big Band will open the event on the stage followed by the Sol Def Band, and DJ Courier will be closing out the night. Darrell Faircloth, manager of Vapors Live, said the Musical Notes Foundation is partnering with the Jazz Society and Vapors Live for the event.
"So it's a broad spectrum of people that attend," he said. "The Musical Notes (Foundation) is a younger demographic. So we've got the big band early, and we've got a pop/rock/jazz band that plays in the middle, and then we've got DJ Courier coming in to close the night."
Tobin said there will be a true party atmosphere with dancing and great music.
"There'll be people streaming in and out," she said. "There'll be people dancing. We'll do a Second Line, like we always do. The band will play 'When the Saints Go Marching In,' and of course, there'll be a lot of Dixieland-type sounds. We're excited about it. It's going to be a lot of fun."
Attendees often come dressed in costumes or formal attire, but that is not a requirement, Tobin said.
"You'll see people decked out in formal attire," she said.
"You'll see people in costumes; some of them are over the top and really wild. That's so entertaining. And you'll see people in just in regular street clothes, very casual.
"So it's really kind of an array. In the past, it's always been pretty much a formal or costume contest and ball, but we're not selling it as a ball anymore because I think people don't necessarily want to dress up," Tobin said.
"We want it to be more accessible to everyone."
Faircloth said Vapors Live is the perfect location for the event.
"The venue seemed the right place for it," he said. "We've got the space for them to do the silent auction. We've got the room for the casino -- it's actually in what used to be the casino back in the '60s -- obviously the stage and sound and seating and all that. Last year was a success. It was a good turnout. They made quite a bit of money, and it's a lot of fun."
Tobin said there are plenty of options for people in the silent auction.
"We've got some silent auction items that we're excited about," she said. "One of them is going to be a soiree, cocktails and music at the 1890 Williams Inn. That's going to be a maximum of 20 people. I think that's going to be a really a really hot item. I have gotten some jewelry from Adrianne Khan and getting some things from Lauray's.
"We'll have golf packages, (Hot Springs) Documentary Film Festival passes -- just a whole array -- lots of baskets and that sort of thing. So something for everyone."
There are three ticket options for the event. VIP tickets are $70, and general admission tickets are $50.
"The VIP tickets are $70," Faircloth said. "That gets you the early admission at 6 o'clock. You'll get a first look at the auction items. You'll get first shot at the casino, the food, preferential seating. It's general admission, and we're not really reserving tables per se, but the first people in obviously are going to get the best tables."
The doors open at 7 p.m. for general admission ticket holders, and there will be a "night owl" ticket as well for $15 "for the younger demographic," Faircloth said.
"It'll be after the casino's closed, and the buffet is gone. ... The bar will still be open," he said.
"The Musical Notes Foundation, they're kind of geared towards a younger following, a younger demographic. Their mission is to provide instruments and private instruction to students, basically. So their events tend to draw a young demographic that doesn't have the $50 or $70 and doesn't really care about the casino," he said.
"They're here for the party. We'll keep the party going."
Tickets can be purchased at:
https://vaporslive.com
Hot Springs Jazz Society President Valerie Tobin looks at a banner featuring artists that played at Vapors Live, which hangs above three vintage slot machines. (The Sentinel-Record/James Leigh)
A promotional poster for the Hot Springs Jazz Society's annual Party Gras lies on a table at Vapors Live, which will host the fundraiser for the second straight year. (The Sentinel-Record/James Leigh)