Leave the fancy ball gown and tuxedo in the closet, don your favorite pair of jeans and pull up a chair –– better yet, make a bid on a chair –– at the 4th annual Blue Jean Ball and Chair-ity Auction, Saturday, Oct. 2, from 7 - 10 p.m. at the Highland Country Club, 2381 Raeford Road, Fayetteville.

“Last year was our biggest year yet,” said Carolyn Zahran, who has been on the ball committee for four years and has co-chaired the event with Martha Spires for two years. “I’ve seen it change, and each year I think it’s improved. Last year Avery Cameron came on board to handle the chairs. It originally started with the chairs just being wooden chairs. The CAC would buy those little ladder-back wooden chairs or straight-back chairs, and then they’d pass them out to local artists — 10 or 15 of them. Last year, when Avery came on board, and she’s artistic in her own right, she said, ‘Let’s recruit these local artists and ask them to do their own chairs.’ The chairs were awesome.”

The more than 30 chairs for the silent auction included one designed by art students at Seventy-first High School, a high chair done in a French motif and a salon chair (by Cameron) called the Diva Chair.

“People were fighting over it,” Zahran said.

The Blue Jean Ball is actually a two-party affair. In the ballroom, children in grades 5 through 8 will enjoy dancing to the DJ talent of Five Star Entertainment, a photo booth complete with props and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Meanwhile, adults will partake of heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages in the lounge and on the terrace during the silent auction. The chairs are the highlight of the auction, which will also include a variety of upholstered pieces donated by furniture stores, as well as other items painted by local artists, fine wine, art, gift certificates, jewelry and sports packages. In the past three years, the Blue Jean Ball has raised more than $85,000 for the CAC.

“We have great sponsors,” Zahran said. “And the Youth Committee held their carwash to raise money, and they will help set up on the day of the event. Last year they made goody bags. This year they are buying fleece to make blankets for kids who come to the center. The party is really for them. It gives them an opportunity to become involved in community service and aware of the CAC.”

Tickets for the event are $50 for adults and $30 for children, and proceeds from the event will benefit the child abuse prevention and outreach efforts of the Child Advocacy Center (CAC).

For more information about the Blue Jean Ball and to purchase a ticket, visit the Child Advocacy Center online at www.childadvocacycenter. com or call 910-486-9700.