Even new residents quickly learn that Alamedans love a good costume. Halloween is celebrated on the island in storybook fashion with all ages indulging in countless events throughout the month. Evidently, Halloween alone is not enough to quench the Alamedan thirst for dress-up opportunities. Every first Saturday of August, the Period Events and Entertainment Society (PEERS), offers Alameda 1900 Picnic in the Park, an opportunity to picnic and dance as if it were the turn of the 20th century.
The event at Lincoln Park begins mid-morning when early birds arrive to spread their blankets, arrange their tables, and set up elaborate picnic settings. The crowd continues to grow as guests enjoy their picnics, mingle with others, and admire everyone’s costumes. At 1 p.m., dancing begins with live music provided by Greenwich Mean Time. The music consists of waltzes, polkas, and even some ragtime. Brief instruction is offered before each dance, and the dances tend to grow in complexity as the afternoon progresses. Some dances, such as the Grand March, are simple enough for complete newbies to follow, while many others, such as Margaret’s Waltz and Vienna Congress, can be done by newbies who are paired with an experienced lead.
The crowd gathered beneath the trees on Saturday, August 1, ranged in age from the very young (including at least one toddler) to seniors. Some came just to picnic, others to dance, and many came to enjoy both. The pull of the event reaches well beyond Alameda, with many attending from Livermore, San Leandro, Walnut Creek, and even Menlo Park.
The gathering included groups of friends, families, couples, and singles, some of whom fully embraced the costumes while others offered more of a simple nod to the era. Some chose traditional outfits, and some added a steam punk twist. While most used parasols to dispel the sun, one guest attempted to beat the heat by wearing an Edwardian swimming costume. The most unifying element of the event was the joy. Smiles and laughter graced every corner, lit the faces of first-time attenders and regulars alike. Yes, it is clear, Alameda does love a good costume—and Alameda 1900 provides a great opportunity to jump into a bygone era and dance the day away.
For those who want to learn the dances in advance, PEERS offers weekly dance classes at the Alameda Elks Lodge on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., for a suggested $10 donation. The first hour includes more detailed instruction and simpler dances. After attending the first hour, new dancers can choose to stay for the advanced portion, where there is less instruction and the dances are more complicated. Many experienced dancers attend weekly to help new ones, and no partner is required to attend.
PEERS was founded by Cathleen and James Myers; Alameda 1900 is a free annual free event the group sponsors. For more information on PEERS and Alameda 1900, visit the PEERS website.
Kelly Rogers Flynt contributes reviews of theatrical productions and feature articles to the Alameda Post. Reach her via [email protected]. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Kelly-Rogers-Flynt.
