October 10, 2012
Get ready to light up the night with a little Carnivale, a little Mardi Gras, a lot of Halloween and a healthy dose of the Short North spirit at the 5th annual HighBall Halloween on Saturday, October 27th. HighBall, presented by Hilton Columbus Downtown and Pagetech, Ltd., is a creative convergence of fashion, art, dance, music, and, of course eye-catching costumes. It’s a party is so extravagant that we had to close High Street!
The 2012 event is staged against the Columbus Convention Center façade, across the street from the new Hilton Columbus Downtown, within walking distance of 10,000 parking spaces. The signature focal point of HighBall is an elaborate runway stage and the evening’s highlight is the Costume Couture Fashion Showdown, a professional fashion and costume design competition.
In addition to the independent fashion forward retailers in the Short North Arts District, Columbus is home to some of the largest and most recognized clothing retailers in the country making our great city one of the top fashion centers in the United States; that status is spectacularly brought to life at HighBall. A production team of 100+ models, designers, hair stylists, make-up artists, judges, videographers, and stage crew will collaborate to choreograph the elaborate, over-the-top competition.
Every attendee can participate in the fabulous fashion as HighBall hosts Columbus’ biggest costume contest. Competitors will have the chance to win over $5,000 in prizes for their artistic talent. HighBall is not your average Halloween party; it is THE most acclaimed costume design experience in the Midwest. Over the past four years, HighBall has become one of the most anticipated and celebrated events in central Ohio!
HighBall has always encouraged its participants to shine with inspired and innovative use of “glow” – LED, lasers, UV-reactive materials, electroluminescent wire and other accessories. This year, in light of the city’s ongoing 200Columbus celebration, organizers asked the question: “What do you get when you cross “illuminate” with “Columbus?” The answer, the event’s theme… ILLUMINATUS: light up the night!
You won’t want to miss out on Columbus’ premier Halloween extravaganza! Come out and celebrate Columbus’ creative spirit…the art of masquerade.
Quick Facts
When: Saturday, October 27th 5:00pm – 1:00am
Admission: $5.00 at the gate
Where: On High Street between Goodale Street and Nationwide Blvd
Parking: 10,000 parking spaces within a two-block radius
2012 Theme: illuminatUS: light up the night
Online
HighBallHalloween.com
Facebook.com/HighBallHalloween
Twitter.com @HighBallCbus
Costume Contest Categories
Most Brilliant
Best Transformation
Best Face Painting
Old School
Most Artistic
Features
20,000 costumed revelers!
Columbus’ biggest Costume Contest
- First Prize – $1,000.00
- Second Prize – $500.00
- Third Prize – $250.00
Alive! People’s Choice Award
Costume Couture Fashion Showdown
Dogtober Pet Costume Contest
Live bands and stage shows
Real-time UV mural painting
Amazing Giants stilt-walkers
Giant Puppets (15-feet tall dancing puppets)
The city’s hottest DJs
HighBall beverages
The city’s best food trucks
Arena Grand Movie Theatre Trivia Contest
Amazing 3-story video projection
Schedule
5:00pm Gates Open
5:30pm – 6:30pm Dogtober pet contest registration
7:00pm Dogtober costume contest on 2nd stage
7:00pm Main stage bands
Prelim costume judging begins
9:45pm Prelim costume judging ends
10:00pm Stage show with Nina West
Costume Couture Fashion Showdown
11:00pm Stage show with Nina West
General Public Costume Contest
12:00am Stage Show with Nina West
Dancing in the Streets with DJ Pons