The Gaskell Ball

Save the Date: December 27th, 2025

The 2024 Gaskell Ball was a wild success, completely sold out, with over 600 people in attendance.

The Next Gaskell Ball!

The next ball is still in the planning stages. Nothing is definite, yet, but you might want to mark Dec 27th, 2025 on your calendar, just in case.

About The Gaskell Ball

The Gaskell ball is one of the oldest, and largest ballroom events in California. The ball started in 1979 at Mills college in Oakland and has been at the Scottish Rite Center since 1990.

Last year's sold out attendance of over 600 people showed that the demand for beautiful, format dances is still strong!

The ball is known for its dancing, its costumes, and its music.

The Dancing

The dancing is from the Victorian Era: waltzes, polkas, mazurkas, as well as some old english country dances, like Sir Roger de Coverley. The dances are high energy, fun, and range from sweetly romantic to silly.

We have classes the day of the ball, for those not yet comfortable with the dances.

The Costumes

Our guests provide their own attire, and much of it is splended. To maintain the ambience, we do require formal attire at the ball. For ideas, check the link.

The Music

For our music, we have the Brassworks Band., continuing their decades long run as our music, playing wondering victorian tunes.

More photos and information on Facebook.

The Volunteers

The ball is put on by a team of overworked volunteers. If you'd like to help make the next ball a reality, reach out to us on Facebook.

The Location

The ball will be held at the Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Dr. Oakland, CA, USA

Map

The Schedule

Note that the 2024 and future balls are starting and ending one hour earlier than pre-2023 balls. The ball will now end at 11pm

This schedule may change. Please check again, closer to the date of the ball

3:00pm
Afternoon Dance Class (until 5:30pm)
6:30pm
Doors open for the ball
6:45pm
Brief dance class/review
7:30pm
Dancing begins
11:00pm
The ball ends