Eureka Springs School of the Arts hosted its annual Mad Hatter Ball online auction and costume ball on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 20, with a theme of “Hollywood: The Silver Screen.” This year’s event was a huge success, with funds from the auction benefiting ESSA’s pursuit of art education for all.

The event was made possible thanks to the generosity of donors, sponsors and bidders who contributed more than 90 auction items, including original art, collectors’ items, jewelry and gift certificates. The auction received a great response from numerous local businesses and individuals who donated items for the cause. The event was a perfect blend of creativity and philanthropy, and ESSA is grateful to everyone who participated in making it a success.

The star-studded live event, hosted at the beautiful and historic Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, was a smashing success with revelers enjoying music provided by DJ Testube and the opportunity to have a photo taken with a real Oscar. The photo opportunity gave party-goers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get up close and personal with an authentic Oscar statuette. The Oscar, which was awarded to Loretta Young in 1947 for her role in “The Farmer’s Daughter,” was generously loaned to ESSA for the evening by a friend of the school.