Colorado Centennial Homeschool Ball
22nd Annual Colorado Centennial Homeschool Ball
When: Saturday, January 10th, 2026, 6:30-9:30 pm
Where: Douglas County Fairgrounds Events Center in Castle Rock, Colorado at 500 Fairgrounds Rd, Castle Rock, CO 80104. (See Directions page.)
What: We’re excited to announce the 21st Annual Colorado Centennial Homeschool Ball, hosted by You Can Live History!
This ball began over two decades ago (like many annual events, we missed a couple years around 2020) as an event to provide just plain clean fun for teens and their families who didn’t want to worry about the issues of modesty, rock music, inappropriate dances/movements, nor the whole guy/girl dating issue. The historic period from 1860-1876 seemed to answer all of these issues, since it was from a more formal time period without modern concerns.
We will be celebrating Colorado's bid for statehood from 1860-1876, featuring historic dances, including the Virginia Reel, Grand March, Hat Dance, and Polka. The young ladies will wear Victorian ball gowns or frontier dresses and the young men will be dressed as Victorian gentlemen, frontiersmen, soldiers, cowboys, or in other era-appropriate costumes. (Note: It was the Victorian era in England, which influenced the English-speaking world; in America it is better known as the Civil War era. At a ball in 1876 you would most likely be wearing the same ball gown you - or your mother - had in 1860, since clothes were homemade and hand-sewn. The ready-to-wear industry was just starting to develop. More history here)
You will learn about 19th century American culture and etiquette, all while having a terrific time enjoying a score of authentic period dances – ranging from waltzes to reels – all taught by a professional dance teacher and set to common 1800's tunes played by skilled musicians. Please make sure to plan your day to be available for the dance class in the morning so everyone learns the steps together.
This will be a family event with parents and young adults, thirteen and older, all dancing together. Refreshments of cookies and punch will be provided during the evening. (If you need, or can bring, gluten-free refreshments, contact us at [email protected] to be connected with the volunteer organizing that.)
We will have a maximum of 400 participants, so register soon!
To Register: Click above on "registration" in the menu bar.
Snow Date: There will be NO snow date unless the entire city is shut down by a blizzard (i.e. if DIA is closed down) therefore, partial refunds may be given only under these circumstances. We are sorry for any hardships this may cause. This is because the fairgrounds management will only reschedule our use of the facility, or refund our money, under those conditions.
Pictures from 2024 Ball:
The pictures below were taken by student photographer Owen McGough, and he took many other beautiful pictures throughout the evening. If you were there, look through the whole collection of high-resolution pictures; you may find some fun ones of friends and family, especially if a young lady in your family was introduced. Tips are appreciated for any pictures you wish to download; Owen's Venmo ID is @Owen-McGough
Buy Tickets
Solar Eclipse 2017 St Joseph Missouri Art Print
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Deluxe Print of Solar Eclipse 2017 St Joseph Missouri
This print is based on artwork designed for the Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph ("St. Joe"), Missouri, but redesigned to express artist Ewan Tallentire's vision of the subject beyond the limitations of screenprinting. In the foreground, the museum building represents the jumping-off point for those heading for Oregon Territory on a path not too far off the path of the eclipse racing eastward from Oregon. The eclipse path across the satellite image of the continental US is illustrated by a slice of satellite-view night. City lights below shine where the light from above fades out. In the background, the "diamond ring" is visible as the eclipse reaches totality. Text commemorates the date and St. Joe's central position with the motto "In the Middle of the Midday Night." The whole scene stands out against the black of space, and one more path lies behind the Oregon Trail and the path of the eclipse: the Milky Way.
See our blog post for more about the eclipse and St. Joseph.
This print would make a good souvenir for those crossing the heartland not on the Pony Express route, nor on the Oregon Trail, but on the solar eclipse path.
Print details:
The artwork is by Ewan Tallentire. The image is professionally printed on 8.5"x11" art cardstock that can be trimmed as desired so the image will fit a standard 8"x10" frame. Note that the digital image shown was saved at a low resolution to deter thieves; the actual print details are very sharp. Ready to ship in 3 business days; ships flat with cardboard backing.
