Blood Moon Ball

Nocturne Gala’s first Vancouver Island event invites beginners to learn historic dances and step into a vampire-inspired evening on October 30.
This Halloween season, Nocturne Gala is inviting Greater Victoria residents to trade an ordinary night out for an evening of gothic romance, dramatic costumes and historic social dancing. The Blood Moon Ball takes place on Friday, October 30, at Esquimalt Gorge Pavilion, bringing the BC event organizer’s beginner-friendly historic balls to Vancouver Island for the first time.
Inspired by vampire fiction and the atmosphere of an old-world court, the event welcomes guests into a setting of candlelight, roses, velvet and lace. Guests become part of the scene themselves, dressing in gothic or vampire-inspired outfits and taking to the dance floor together.
At the heart of the experience is an invitation to learn. Admission includes a pre-ball workshop on Saturday, October 24, where guests learn the dances and meet fellow attendees before the main event. No previous dance experience or partner is required, and leader and follower roles are open to all genders.
The Blood Moon Ball offers a hands-on introduction to historic social dance through adaptations designed for contemporary beginners. Learning patterns, moving together, and changing partners give guests a shared activity around which new connections can form. It is a chance to experience dance as a social tradition, alongside the creativity of Halloween costume-making.
For Greater Victoria residents looking for something different this Halloween, the evening combines a cultural activity with an immersive night out. It welcomes curious first-time dancers, costume enthusiasts, friends and couples. Elaborate historical clothing is optional: guests can interpret the gothic theme through dark gowns, capes, dramatic coats or other vampire-inspired details.
Event details
Ball: Friday, October 30, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM.
Venue: Esquimalt Gorge Pavilion, 1070 Tillicum Road, Esquimalt.
Included workshop: Saturday, October 24, 12:00–4:30 PM, at Quadra Village Community Centre, 901 Kings Road, Victoria.
Dress code: Gothic or vampire-inspired costumes. Historical accuracy is not required.
Information and tickets: Blood Moon Ball event page.
About Nocturne Gala
Nocturne Gala creates beginner-friendly historic dance events in British Columbia. Through guided workshops and rehearsals, atmospheric settings and elegant dress, it helps guests learn social dances, meet new people, and step into another world for an evening. Its events make participation approachable for people who have never attended a ball or learned historic dances before.
Media contact
Anna Stankevich
[email protected]
Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @nocturnegala
Photos and videos: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1nHWsHMW5g1XnL1b_J8sHLCYr-mi4r01M