Renaissance fest expands with weekly masked balls

TODD MISSION - King Midas of Greek mythology turned everything he touched into gold. Organizers of the Texas Renaissance Festival are hoping they can work similar sorcery with the opening of the Temple of King Midas and the addition of weekly masquerade balls.

The series of parties will launch Oct. 11, coinciding with the opening weekend of the 40th annual Texas Renaissance Festival.

"It took us 40 years to get to this," festival marketing director Cory Brock said, motioning to the still-under-construction temple. "We're going to be working on this and improving it for another 40 years."

Brock called King Midas' Masquerade Ball the festival's biggest endeavor in its history.

"We want this to be a fairy-tale event," said Terre Albert, festival general manager. "Not too many people can say they've been to a masquerade ball. It should be special."

The ball will accommodate 600 guests each Saturday evening during the festival's eight-week run. Costume or formalwear - and a mask - are required for entry.

As revelers arrive for the ball, they'll be greeted by paparazzi. The glittering red-carpet experience will be augmented by tiny strobe lights that mimic flashbulbs.

The temple's three stages will include a four-level stage in the main ballroom where costumed actors will re-create the story of greedy King Midas, whose wish that everything he touched would turn to gold took a tragic turn.

"I don't know of any renaissance fair to have done anything like this," Albert said.

Festival art director Brian Terano created the temple's pediment with its 9-foot reliefs and classical columns.

Terano, who has worked on sets on Broadway and in major theme parks, spent months designing and building the temple. In previous jobs, while he may have drafted the designs, teams of engineers, builders and painters worked on each project.

"This is the first time I've gotten to do everything myself," Terano said, beaming as a single bead of sweat fell off his nose.

Although the roof and most of the walls of the 15,000-square-foot temple are made of a heavy-duty fabric, the structure is climate controlled. This year's series of balls is considered a trial run. If the masquerade balls are as successful as expected, festival organizers will begin construction on a permanent building with a slightly larger footprint than the tented version.

In addition to the play about King Midas, ball-goers will be entertained by aerial artists, illusionists, contortionists and musicians, as well as a DJ who will keep the party going between acts.

Tickets to King Midas' Masquerade Ball must be purchased in advance online and are sold separately from festival admission. An "Invitation," or basic ball admission, costs $75; "Golden" or VIP tickets cost $170. Guests must be 21 or older.

A standard ticket includes entry to the ball at 8 p.m., access to an hors d'oeuvres buffet and complimentary house wine and domestic beers until 11 p.m. A cash bar will open at 11 p.m.

VIP tickets include early entry to the ball (7 p.m.), a toast with King Midas, access to a private lounge, premium hors d'oeuvres, complimentary top-shelf liquor until 11 p.m. and a collectible bottle of wine.

Tickets have been on sale since February, and Brock reports that many dates are close to selling out. The most popular dates have been for the inaugural ball (Oct. 11) and the Halloween weekend party (Oct. 25).

As part of the buildup to the 40th anniversary, Brock said everything within the Renaissance Festival's 55 acres in Grimes County had been remodeled or updated within the past four years.

"There's a difference between being renaissance and being rundown," he said.