Fayetteville residents can step back into the 18th century during the Cross Creek Colonial Ball, an evening of live music, traditional dancing and community fellowship inspired by the social gatherings of early America. Presented by Fayetteville Historic Dance, the ball will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1601 Raeford Road. The event is part of the local celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and will benefit the church’s food pantry.
“The Cross Creek Colonial Ball grew out of a desire to bring historical social dance to life in a way that is inclusive and fun,” said Michele O’Donnell of Fayetteville Historic Dance. “Our group has been teaching historic dance for years, and we wanted to create an event that celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary year.”
For O’Donnell and the event’s organizers, a ball offers participants the opportunity to experience several aspects of colonial culture at once.
“A ball is one of the most authentic ways to experience colonial culture because it blends music, movement, fashion and fellowship,” she said.
The event also draws inspiration from the history of Cross Creek, one of the settlements that eventually became Fayetteville. During the colonial era, Cross Creek was a bustling community of merchants, tradespeople and families. With fewer forms of entertainment available, dances and other social gatherings played an important role in community life.
“Dancing was a major part of community life—one of the few entertainments available that brought everyone together,” O’Donnell said. “Hosting a ball in Fayetteville today honors that legacy. It reflects the same spirit of hospitality, neighborliness and celebration that early residents would have recognized.”
Guests will be welcomed into an elegant but relaxed setting decorated in red, white and blue with star motifs in recognition of the nation’s semiquincentennial. Candlelight, natural materials and historically inspired colors will help create the atmosphere of an 18th-century gathering. Each attendee will also receive a handmade favor featuring colonial-inspired materials and designs.
Although the setting may evoke another century, participation does not require historical knowledge, dancing experience or a costume.
“We aim for historical flavor rather than strict reenactment,” O’Donnell said. “The music, dances and attire evoke the 18th century, but the event is designed to be welcoming to everyone—no experience or costume required.”
The evening will feature English country dances similar to those enjoyed in colonial America. Participants may encounter graceful longways sets and familiar dances such as “Haste to the Wedding,” “Brandywine,” and “The Virginia Reel.” Each dance will be explained step by step and called throughout the performance. The patterns are designed to be simple, repetitive, and social, allowing beginners to join in comfortably.
“Many guests attend their first colonial ball without any prior experience and have a wonderful time,” O’Donnell said.
Ticket holders who would like additional preparation can attend a Colonial Ball Dance Workshop from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. The afternoon workshop will serve as a warm-up before the ball begins at 6 p.m.
Live music will be provided by Syllabub, whose musicians will perform traditional 18th-century dance tunes throughout the evening. According to O’Donnell, the energetic and joyful music is central to creating the ball’s historical atmosphere.
Fayetteville Historic Dance will also present a cotillion demonstration. Popular at formal gatherings during the late 18th century, cotillions featured elegant and often intricate dance figures. The demonstration will offer guests a closer look at the refined social-dancing traditions of the period.
Dessert and light refreshments will be served between dances. While the refreshments will not be prepared strictly from colonial recipes, their presentation will reflect the hospitality associated with period social gatherings, where sweets, conversation, and dancing went hand in hand.
Organizers hope the event will do more than introduce guests to historical dance. They want attendees to experience the sense of connection that made dances significant gathering places in early communities.
“Balls and dance gatherings helped build community, strengthen social ties and celebrate important occasions,” O’Donnell said. “They were places where news was shared, friendships formed, and traditions passed down.”
That spirit of community continues through the ball’s support of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Food Pantry, which assists local families in need. Proceeds from the event will benefit the pantry, allowing guests to support a local cause while participating in Fayetteville’s commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
“The Cross Creek Colonial Ball is more than a dance—it’s a community celebration with a purpose,” O’Donnell said. “By attending, guests enjoy a beautiful evening while directly contributing to a meaningful cause.”
Most of all, organizers hope participants will leave feeling as though they have crossed the distance between Fayetteville’s colonial past and its present-day community.
“We hope guests feel transported, like they’ve stepped into an 18th-century gathering where music and movement connect people across time,” O’Donnell said. “Colonial dance is social by nature; you dance with many partners, laugh, learn and share the evening together.”
The Cross Creek Colonial Ball is open to all ages. Tickets are $55, and colonial attire is encouraged but not required. Additional information and tickets are available on the Eventbrite listing at https://tinyurl.com/bde9mrpd.