Oct 30, 2026 9:00 PM
Dance or Die: A Drag Rave
GET READY FOR BONE RATTLING BEATS BY afterPRTY, A KILLER COSTUME CONTEST, and the BIGGEST HALLOWEEN DRAG SHOW in SANTA CRUZ!
Large Theater
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The Emerald Ball
Apr 25, 2025 · The 418 Project
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The Emerald Ball
A "Wicked" Evening in OZ
Date & Time
Apr 25 2025 (Friday)
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location
The 418 Project
In the: Large Theater
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About This Event
What if you woke up one day and realized you wanted to do something really special for your birthday? Like, not just special for you. This is what happened to Janine, a 418 Project ally. She woke up and realized she wanted to do MUCH MORE with her birthday this year. Which is how the Emerald Ball was born. So now, thanks to Janine’s love of The 418 Project mission, we all get to enjoy the Emerald Ball, an extraordinary moment to experience the Joy of Empowerment. WHAT IS THE EMERALD BALL? The Emerald Ball is a “Wicked” chance to celebrate togetherness, to come out as allies, to meet and mingle with new friends, and to party down while raising money for our Trans and Queer community members who need our help right now. Dress as your favorite Wicked or Wizard of Oz personality, create your own (or just wear green). Event Line-Up: watch this space! We’ll be adding more special guests
- 7 PM Doors Open - Live Music Meet & Mingle
- 8 PM The Kingdom of Oz Opens, Beats with DJ Electric Tomcat
- 9 PM Costume Contest
- 10 PM Defying Gravity Karaoke Singalong with Keeva Ivester
This celebration is a night to honor the powerful role you play in helping to forge a world where love, respect, and acceptance are the true forces that bind us together. WHY RIGHT NOW? WHY the Emerald Ball? With the generous support of Dual Demons, The 418 Project, and The Emergency Fund, we are raising monies to support The 418 Project and Dual Demons Trans/Queer Emergency Fund to support LGBTQIA+ individuals facing hardship. Admission is by donation! Your generosity goes directly to provide emergency aid, housing assistance, mental health support, and community resources for those in need in the LGBTQIA+ community. Table at the Emerald Ball: are you an ally? Does your organization offer educational resources or support LGBTQIA+ people? We have a limited number of tables where you can share information at the event: contact seekingjoy2@gmail.com to learn more. But don’t wait, they’re filling up fast. Whether you donate, become a sponsor, or just simply show up in your most wickedly wonderful attire, your presence will make this night truly unforgettable.
Visiting The 418 Project: What to Expect
House guidelines to ensure a welcoming, inclusive space for everyone
We are committed to a safe, welcoming environment where everyone is treated with cultural and personal respect across all backgrounds and identities. We hold the highest standards for consent—in movement, touch, and conversation. Always check in first, honor boundaries, and ensure that consent is clear, voluntary, and ongoing.
As a community-run non-profit collective with a small staff, we cannot clean everything after every event. Please help us care for the space by picking up after yourself, placing recycling and compost in the bins provided, and treating every room with kindness so it remains welcoming for the next gathering.
We have a filtered water bottle refill station on-site, so feel free to bring a refillable bottle. All restrooms are all-gender, ADA-accessible, and located conveniently on the ground floor.
To ensure everyone can breathe and move comfortably—especially community members with chemical sensitivities and asthma—The 418 Project is a low-fragrance space. Please refrain from applying perfumes, scented colognes, or strongly scented lotions before attending.
As an artist-driven non-profit collective, we believe movement and art should be accessible to all regardless of financial circumstances. Many events feature sliding scale tickets, and we offer work-trade opportunities for community members who wish to volunteer in exchange for admission.
Plan Your Visit
Venue & Accessibility
The 418 Project is located in downtown Santa Cruz. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming space for all dancers, artists, and community members.
Address: 155 S. River St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Accessibility: Ground floor entrances & all-gender accessible restrooms
Parking: On-street parking & nearby River Street public garage
Gallery
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Small Theater