Havin' a Ball With History

Arts lovers get in step with Millie and Billy to kick up their heels and support MRAC.

 

Celebrating its Wild West past, Silver City will once again see gunslingers mingling with ladies of the night as the Mimbres Region Arts Council (MRAC) and Prudential Silver City Properties present the 4th Annual Millie & Billy Ball, a fundraiser for the MRAC, on June 25.

Tongue planted firmly in cheek, the event honors Silver City's most infamous outlaw and madam: Billy the Kid, the infamous 19th century gunman who grew up here, and Madame Millie, aka Mildred Clark Cusey, who ran houses of ill repute in Silver City and throughout New Mexico from the 1920s on up to the 1970s.

Many attendees go all out and come dressed in period costumes, but a simple western theme of boots and jeans is just fine, too.

Attendees will have the chance to vie for costume prizes, load up on a barbeque dinner with all the fixin's, and hoof it 'til midnight to live music provided by popular Las Cruces western swing band, The Desperadoes.

The event will once again be held at the Flame Convention Center, 2800 Pinos Altos Road in Silver City, where the generous dance floor gives good ol' guys and gals plenty of room to kick up their heels.

The $30 ticket covers dinner and dancing; there will be a full cash bar. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the arts council's office in the Wells Fargo Bank building, 1st New Mexico Bank in Wal-Mart, Mouse of All Trades, Alotta Gelato, Gila Hike & Bike, Leyba & Ingalls Arts and Cienega Spa & Salon. For information, call 538-2505 or see www.mimbresarts.org.