Monthly Archives: October 2024

We Won An Award!

While we don’t do what we do for accolades, it’s always nice to be recognized for our efforts, especially since all of our events are run by a small group of Heads of House and outside volunteers when necessary. 2023’s Yule Ball was a huge success in both money raised for our chosen charity and fun we had with our fellow witches and wizards. We raised money for Friendly House’s Elder Pride Services, which helps to uplift senior LGBTQ+ folx through amazing programs and community creation.

Bas Porter, Shereen Rayle, Brandie Sylfae, Summer Calcagno

In an effort to celebrate groups and individuals who help Elder Pride Services grow their programs, including having guest speakers come in for continued learning, sending seniors to theater performances, working with housing facilities to advocate for safe and secure housing for seniors, and holding heath and wellness classes, Friendly House held their annual awards ceremony in September.

PDXpelliarmus was honored to be invited to Friendly House’s inclusive senior living facility The Opal and be recognized for our efforts. We had the opportunity to connect with several Friendly House employees and seniors who call The Opal home to speak more about what we do and why we do it. This is always a great reminder of why we raise funds for our community, because we don’t always get to meet people who may have been directly effected by our contribution, nor do they get to ask questions about our organization.

Look at that beautiful glass rose made by Rachel Escoe!

PDXpelliarmus was honored with the Legacy Award for 2024. “The Legacy Award is a testament to your unique contributions. This award goes to an individual, group, or business that has substantially contributed financially to Elder Pride Services, allowing us to grow services and programs benefiting our participants. Your generous contribution helped set the pace for improving services, visibility, and quality of life for our LGBTQ+ older adults.” – Brandy Penner, Elder Pride Services Program Manager 

If you came to last year’s Yule Ball, then you have helped us to earn this award and you’ve made a big difference in the lives of seniors who are living their lives to the fullest with a little bit of support. 2024 Yule Ball tickets are on sale right now, so help us raise even more money for an amazing charity (to be announced soon). Remember, we don’t just have dancing, Butterbeer (and other adult bevvies), and a feast, but also fantastic raffle prizes, which also goes towards our charity organization. We hope you’ll join us for another spellbinding evening.

Tickets on Sale for 2024 Yule Ball – Don’t Miss Out!

The wizard activists of PDXpelliarmus are excited to invite you to the 2024 Yule Ball, on December 14th, 2024! The Yule Ball is an enchanted evening of well-mannered frivolity, celebrating our magical community, and doing some good in the world! Every year, Yule Ball gets more magical and we see a lot of familiar faces and love meeting new ones. We’d love to see you there. Tickets are on sale now, and you can purchase them here:

https://pdxhpa.betterworld.org/events/2024-yule-ball

Generally Magical tickets are $45. Champion’s Feast tickets are $105.

The Yule Ball is first and foremost, a dance! There will be music, themed cocktails, an expansive raffle, and a photo booth so you can capture the magic of the evening.

Wizarding attire or formalwear are strongly encouraged, and muggle street clothes may be subject to transfiguration. This event will be 21+, with NO underage wizards allowed.

Before the dance begins, we will be hosting the Champion’s Feast! Champion’s Feast tickets come with dinner, magical swag, and a seat at a table in the ballroom. Each table is named after a location in the Wizarding World so when you purchase your tables, your party can plan to sit together.

Got a whole Quidditch Team to bring? A limited number of whole tables are also available. Whole tables include eight Champion’s Feast tickets, as well as the option to name your table and decide where in the ballroom it will be located. Champion’s Feast Whole Tables are $850.

In the weeks leading up to the Ball, all guests will be challenged to participate in the Triwizard Tournament, a real-world competition designed to test your bravery, cunning, determination, and creativity. The winner of the Triwizard Tournament will receive a special award at the Ball!

This year, the Yule Ball is returning to the Mt. Hood Ballroom at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel. (An airport is a location where muggles gather to ride in large dragon-like flying machines, as they lack portkeys and broomsticks.) This venue features its own entrance, with bountiful and free parking, and lots of room for us to spread out in! Guests who like to dance into the wee hours will also be able to get discounted rooms at the hotel, so you won’t need to worry about apparition accidents or overcrowded Knight Buses. Returning to the same venue is also giving us the chance to really lean into transforming the space to make it as magical as possible. Expect some new wonders this year!