Krampus Ball Details Announced

postcard-4inx6in-h-frontThe Third Annual Los Angeles Krampus Ball

Saturday, December 5, 2015.

Held once again in our chalet-style venue in Highland Park, the Krampus Ball, is the scariest costume party this side of the Alps. Tonight it falls on Krampusnacht, the night the devils are summoned by St. Nicholas from their secret cave on Mount Lee, and marched toward Highland Park where the naughty and nice are assembled for judgment. Tradition says we dress to the “neins” for this night of reckoning, so we encourage whatever Krampus couture’s within your budget — lederhosen or dirndl, some Victorian fanciness, or just some sprigs of pagan holly – it’s up to you. While we await St. Nick’s judgment, we’ll pass the time with entertainment including classic German tales of errant children musically and theatrically interpreted by cabaret artist Christina Linhardt and vaudevillian “Tuba” Heatherton. You’ll have a chance to embrace your inner Bavarian as GTEV D’Oberlandler returns with their folkloric Schuhplattler dances, 10-foot alphorns, accordions, and tuned cowbells. Linda Herman and the Raving Polka roll out the barrel, and get your oompah running. Things get truly witchy when Tatzelwurm takes the stage. Performing in horns and hides and smelling faintly of the Black Death, this experimental neofolk ensemble makes the sort of music Odin puts on mixtapes for his Valkyries. There will also be the diabolically pleasing shimmying of Miss Krampest Storm, treats and blessings from St. Nicholas, and other surprises, the most terrifying being the arrival of the Krampus Los Angeles Troupe. When you hear that clatter of bells outside, you’ll wish you’d been good; nearly two dozen fantastically outfitted Krampusses and related demons are about to storm in, sweeping everyone into a furry maelstrom of horns and flicking switches.

KRAMPUS BALL: Highland Park Ebell Club, 131 S Ave 57 Los Angeles, CA 90042, Doors: 7:30pm, Show: 8pm-12am, $20 (Advance tickets strongly recommended; this event sells out early every year.)

 

2013 Krampus Ball 2013 photos.  2014 Krampus Ball 2014 photos.

RSVP on Facebook. See who’s going.

2015 LA Krampusfest Events

Some of our 2015 Guests from Austria: Moorpass Maishofen.

Some of our 2015 Guests from Austria: Moorpass Maishofen.

THE KRAMPUS: Lecture with Media and Costumes: Saturday, November 28, 2015: The lore of the Krampus illustrated with a festive stream of rare images, film clips, and walk-ons by costumed members of the Krampus LA Troupe at the Goethe-Institut Los Angeles in the midtown museum district.

THE KRAMPUS BALL: Saturday, December 5, 2014: Once again in its chalet-like home in Highland Park, the Krampus Ball, is the scariest costume party this side of the Alps. While we await the storming horde of devils and otherworldly beast of Krampus LA, we’ll be entertained by everyone’s favorite traditional Bavarian dance troupe, GTEV D’Oberlandler back with their alphorns, accordions, cowbells,and lederhosen, German cabaret from  Christina Linhardt and “Tuba” Heatherton, Polka with Linda Herman and the Raving Polka, the experimental, pagan neofolk of Tatzelwurm, and the diabolical dance of Miss Krampest Storm.

LA KRAMPUSLAUF, Thursday, December 10, 2015: This year the Krampus LA troupe will be joined by over a dozen members of the Moorpass Maishofen from Austria!  This first large scale outing by American and Austrian troupes together will cross paths with the Downtown Art-Walk, visit the Pershing Square Holiday Festival, an Austrian Cafe right in downtown LA, and take over a historic retail atrium.

KRAMMPSTEIN at ALPINE VILLAGE: Saturday, December 12, 2015: Rammstein meets Krampus as the horned hybrid Krammpstein performing this year in the über-deutsch ballroom of Alpine Village. Opening acts, and other costumed Christmas devilry TBA. The spectacle takes place in conjunction with Alpine Village’s European-style Christmas Faire, so in the bargain you get mulled wine, German beer, foods, sweets, and tons of snow carted in for the occasion.

ST. NICHOLAS 1888: Traditional Krampus Play and Film: Sunday, December 13, 2015, (Two shows): A traditional Austrian Krampus play from the 1880s complete with St. Nicholas, angels, Death, Lucifer, murderous innkeepers, and Krampuses. Presented with a rare TBA film themed to the occasion.  All in the gothic revival splendor of Pasadena’s historic Anglican Church of the Angels.

(Past Events: 20132014)