Boys will be girls and girls will be boys as western Canada’s longest running cross-dress dance celebrates its 60th year.
Going strong at the Mabel Lake community of Kingfisher since 1955, the Jumble Dance is back for another year.
It takes place July 25 at Kingfisher Hall.
“The cross-dress tradition began, so the story goes when the men, mostly loggers, weren’t asking the women to dance. In fact, a lot of the men preferred to hang out in the parking lot, leaving the women with no one to dance with. Solution: some of the women dressed up as men,” writes Jan Lacko, on behalf of the Kingfisher Community Association.
“Things started to be a lot more fun inside the hall. The men, knowing a good time when they saw one, soon joined in, dressing up as women.”
A tradition began.
For 60 years running, Kingfisher Hall has filled on a summer night with live music, outrageous costumes, and almost always great snacks at midnight, said Lacko.
“A new generation has picked up the reins and have made it their own.”
This year’s Jumble Dance features Blue Moon Marquee, a screamin’ and hollerin’ gypsy blues band from Nelson, as well as Kingfisher’s own DJ Kato.
There’s also special treat this year to mark 60 years of madness.
Those who would love to relive their glory days, but fall asleep early, can enjoy a Come As You Were pre-rock out from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
“Folks are invited to come in their favourite costume, or not. Come As You Were partiers are asked to bring an appetizer to share,” said Lacko.
There is no admission to this part of the fun, however, tickets to the dance, which goes from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Kingfisher Hall, located 33 kilometres east of Enderby on Mabel Lake Road, are $15 each.
Tickets are available at Kingfisher Rivermouth Marina, Tony O’s in Enderby, and at Ashton Creek General Store.
