An Inside Look at The Galentine’s Ball: Celebrating Sisterhood with EmpowHer

The EmpowHer committee have found ways to create a sense of uplifting love and appreciation even before you step foot into the event. At ticket pickup, each attendee received a personal goodie bag, including some iconic heart-shaped glasses and a handwritten valentine’s card. The committee were very friendly and welcoming at the pickup, expressing their excitement for the ball, and setting the mood for the upcoming evening – from the start, the committee emphasized the sense of community and positive energy surrounding the evening. 

The night of the ball, you find yourself outside the venue. You are welcomed by the entire EmpowHer committee, complimenting outfits, taking your coat, handing you your free drink token and raffle ticket, all while you begin to take in the decor– the place has been aptly decorated to match the red and pink theme of Galentine’s, with heart shaped balloons and banners. The venue felt warm and comforting; a safe environment to spend the evening having fun with friends. Walking into the main area of the venue, there was a quieter section with space to stand and sit and chat with friends, there was a corner with inclusive sweet treats for all dietary needs and restrictions. Moving further into the venue was the bar and the dance floor, complete with a DJ playing an incredible array of iconic songs that everyone could sing and dance to. There was a natural flow to the venue that offered spaces for dancing, chatting, and resting. As a Galentine’s-specific event, there wasn’t a romantic vibe to the evening, it was more a night out with friends, an evening of women supporting women.  

As is often the case with such an event, the Galentine’s Ball guests committed to the bit in their outfits - the designated theme was red & pink, no level of fanciness specified. This meant that there was a range of outfit genres, ranging from more casual to more ball attire, but everyone looked happy and confident in their chosen ensemble. As was made clear in the marketing, it was a case of “wear what makes you happy,” so the evening was never about what people were wearing, it was about coming together as a community.  

The audience of the Galentine’s ball was very much a celebration of friendship with one another. While there are no rules against men attending the event, the premise of a Galentine’s ball does generate a limited number of male attendees.  

As a music fanatic myself, I would have loved to see a live music performance for a portion of the evening. I do think that the live music scene here is very male dominated which would not match the vibes of the event. Maybe next year a girl power band will have made their debut and can find their way to the Galentine’s stage!? Nevertheless, even without a strict schedule, the ball maintained a high mood and positive vibes throughout the night. 

Overall, the EmpowHer Galentine’s ball was very well thought & carried out and truly captured the positive energy of Galentine’s and the celebration of friendship. The evening can easily be considered a success from the perspective of both the committee and the attendees. Galentine’s was a highlight of my semester thus far, and I can’t wait to see how EmpowHer take on this event next year and for the continuation of the semester.