Do I have to be a member of the Regency Society of Virginia in order to attend?

No. The ball is open to both members and non-members. However, members do get a discount on their ball tickets. Plus, your membership would be good for a year and allow you discounts at other RSV events--and preferred vendors--throughout the year! To find out more about becoming an RSV member, visit our Join Us page.

Is it okay to come by myself or do I need a partner?

You are very welcome to come without a partner in tow...mainly because you won't need one! By its very nature, English Country Dancing is social and we encourage our attendees to switch partners throughout the ball in keeping with the customs of the time. We promise that there will be more than enough people available and willing to "stand up" with you.

If you're new to the group, never fear! Not only will we have a Zoom meeting available so you can chat with other attendees prior to the event, but we will have hostesses on hand at the ball itself. Simply look for one of the ladies wearing a white "Hostess" ribbon at the event and she will be happy to introduce you to someone willing to dance that that you need not ask someone you're not acquainted with to join you on the floor.

Are children welcome?

We have been delighted to have children of a wide range of ages attend this event in the past. All attendees, regardless of age, are required to purchase a ticket. The children who get the most out of the experience are those who know left from right, are able to follow instructions, and are able to behave appropriately in public. We simply ask that parents use discretion in determining whether or not their children are mature enough to participate.

Can I buy tickets at the door?

There are no ticket sales at the door. Online ticket sales for the 2025 Valentine's Ball close February 7, 2025. Click here to purchase your tickets now.

Can I pay by check or PayPal instead of by card?

Yes! If you do not wish to pay with a credit card, you are welcome to pay via PayPal or check. Simply e-mail us at treasurer@varegency.org to let us know how you would like to pay. Be sure to include whether you would like to join us for the plated dinner and, if so, which entree you would like and if you require a gluten free meal or not. (If you have additional members in your party, be sure to include the same information for each person.) Once we have received your information, we will e-mail you back and either send a PayPal invoice or the information to send a check. (Checks should be made payable to "Kimberly Costa" and mailed to the Regency Society of Virginia, 1024 Centerbrooke Ln., Ste F, #166, Suffolk, VA 23434. Once we receive your check or your PayPal payment, you will get an e-mail indicating that your registration has been completed. All payments must be received no later than the close of registration (February 7, 2025). We cannot guarantee your spot until payment has been received.

What if I purchase a ticket and then discover I'm not able to attend?

If you realize that you won't be able to join us after purchasing a ticket, contact us as soon as possible at info@varegency.org. We are usually able to offer a refund if we are notified before the close of online registration. Your tickets are transferable, so if you find out that you can't make it after registration closes, you are welcome to offer them to someone who can. Please let us know if you give your ticket(s) to someone else to use so that your guest is not prevented from being admitted or held responsible for an additional ticket. We are sorry, but we are unable to issue any refunds after registration closes unless another person is willing to purchase your spot.

Is there any way to purchase a ticket after registration closes?

We cannot guarantee ticket availability after the close of registration but e-mail us at info@varegency.org to see if you can be accommodated.

I'm a member of the Regency Society of Virginia and, when I try to buy my ticket, the discounted ticket price is not an option. How do I get my discount?

The membership discount will only become available if you are a current member and logged in to the website. First, make certain that you have logged in. (You should see your name in the upper right-hand corner of the website if you are logged in. Otherwise, you will see a "Member Login" link in the upper right-hand corner. Simply click on that link and enter your username and password to log in.) Next, make sure that your membership dues are current. (If they are not, you will get a notification of a balance due when you log in.) If you are still having issues, e-mail us at info@varegency.org.

I have a family membership and I'm not able to register the other people in my membership. Why can't I get the discount for them?

If you have not yet added family members to your family membership, you will need to do so before the option to register additional people on your membership at the member discount will become available. Make certain that you are logged in to the website and go to

Profile>More Member Options>Additional Members in Your Account.

Once there, you can click on the "Add" icon next to the "Secondary Members" or "Tertiary Members" headings and add the people in your household. (Typically, the secondary member is the spouse of the primary member and the tertiary members are their dependent children.) If you are still unable to access the discount after adding members to your membership, please contact us at info@varegency.org.

I'm coming in from out of town. Do you have any lodging available?

We have reserved a block of rooms at the Country Inn and Suites located at 130 Wagner Road, Petersburg, a short distance away from our venue. There are three types of rooms available under our room block: Standard King (1 king bed) or Queen (2 queen beds) bedrooms at $119+tax/night and Queen Suites (2 queen beds and a sleeper sofa) at $129+tax/night. These rates are available for both Friday, February 14 and Saturday, February 15. Check in time is 3pm (2pm for Radisson members) and check-out is noon. All rooms include complimentary breakfast in the morning and free WIFI. Reservations must be made by January 14, 2025 to be guaranteed the group rate. To make your reservations, call Country Inn & Suites directly at (804) 861-4355 and request the "Victory Ball" rate.

What dances will you be doing?

We develop a new program for each Victory Ball although there are generally some RSV favorites that remain consistent from year to year. Downloadable dance instructions will be posted on the Victory Ball main page for the current year.

I don't have any/much experience doing Regency dances. Will I be able to participate?

Yes! We understand that we will have people with a wide range of experience levels at our event and our object is to make certain that those who wish to dance will have many opportunities regardless of how long they've been dancing. If you have never done English Country Dancing before, we do recommend that you look for a local ECD group in your area prior to the event so that you can become more comfortable with the figures. (There are links to several Virginia groups on our Links page.) We also hold a "crash course" practice session on the day of the ball to allow you to familiarize yourself with some of the dances that will be done that evening. This practice session is included in the cost of your ball ticket, so there is no additional charge to attend. Check the main Victory Ball page for more information on this year's time and location for the practice session. And don't worry about memorizing the dances! Our excellent dancing master will be on hand to call each of the figures out so that you will know what step comes next.

Will I miss anything crucial if I don't come to the "crash course" session the afternoon of the ball?

We encourage everyone who is attending the ball to attend the "crash course" practice session to be familiar with the specific dances that will be done that evening, but attendance is not required. The session is particularly helpful for those who have never done or are new to doing English Country Dance. If you are comfortable and familiar with ECD figures, you will probably have no difficulty following along during the ball itself.

What is the dress code for the "crash course" session?

While period attire is welcome, most people typically attend in modern casual clothing. We strongly recommend that you wear comfortable shoes with flexible soles. High heels are not recommended.

Is period clothing required?

No. While we certainly encourage folks to get into the spirit and wear early 19th century attire, we do not require it and many of our guests in the past have come in modern attire. If you prefer to wear modern clothing, we simply ask that you respect the formality of the occasion and wear appropriate evening wear. (Dresses for the ladies; suits and ties for the gentlemen.)

Will there be food available at the ball?

All guests to the 2023 Victory Ball will be offered dessert during the interval (intermission). Water and coffee are also included in your ball ticket price. A cash bar will be available for those wishing to partake of adult beverages or other soft drinks. (If you plan on drinking, don't forget to bring a valid picture ID!)

We also offer an optional plated dinner prior to the ball for an additional cost. This meal includes rolls, garden salad, your choice of one of three entrees (Jumbo Stuffed Gulf Shrimp, Lemon Pepper Chicken, Marinated Flank Steak, or Vegetarian), seasonal vegetables, and oven roasted potatoes. Gluten-Free diets can be accommodated. Anyone wishing to join us for the plated meal must register prior to October 13, 2023 (close of registration).

Will you be requiring masks/proof of vaccination status for attendees?

We will not be requiring masks or proof of vaccination status so long as not doing so is not in violation of any governmental or venue-specific requirements in place at the time of the event.

I would like to attend but I'd rather not dance. Are there any discounts for non-dancers?

As we have no way to enforce who dances and who does not, we are unable to offer discounted tickets for "observers." We would still enjoy the pleasure of your company, of course, and offer a gaming room with period games for the amusement of those who don't care to be on the dance floor.

Why isn't there going to be a Victory Ball in 2024?

The year 2024 begins the bicentennial celebrations of the Marquis de Lafayette's Farewell Tour of the United States. (Learn more about the Bicentennial Commemorations by clicking here.) The American Friends of Lafayette, who are planning these commemorations, have determined that local events should be hosted during the dates corresponding to those on which Lafayette visited. As it turns out, "America's Favorite Fighting Frenchman" was in Virginia during the fall of 1824, and, in an effort to de-conflict with the unique special events taking place around the Commonwealth, we have chosen to move the date for the Victory Ball. We hope that you will consider joining us on February 15, 2025 for our rescheduled event and will watch for the Victory Ball's return to its usual fall date in 2026!

Where can I get the clothes if I choose to wear period attire?

Be sure to look at our Links page for sources for appropriate patterns, fabrics, or ready- and custom-made garments. Members can post requests to borrow garments or look for clothing available to purchase from other members in the Classified Ads section of the website. Non-members can do the same in the Victory Ball event listing on our Facebook page.

I'm a member and would love to help out with the ball. How can I let you know I'm available to assist?

First of all, thank you for your willingness to serve! The best way to let us know that you are interested in getting involved is to visit our Volunteer Opportunities page. (You must be logged in to access the page.) Simply find our Victory Ball listing and click on the green hand ("Volunteer Yourself"), then choose the way(s) you would like to help support the event. We'll contact you when we are ready for your assistance!

Is there any way that I can share information about the Victory Ball with others?

The more, the merrier, so please do let those you believe would enjoy the evening know about the event! For those who are a part of organizations that meet on a regular basis (such as English Country Dance and JASNA groups), we will soon have downloadable flyers available to print out. For those who just want to get the word out through social media or other digital means, please be sure to share the URL to the Victory Ball main page and our event listing on our Facebook page.