A Merry Masquerade: Mermaids Christmas Ball 2024 in Review

By Ami Melville

Photo taken by author.

The annual Mermaids Christmas Ball serves as a wonderful culmination of fall semester celebration. Every year, over 1,500 students gather in the rustically charming and beautifully illuminated Kinkell Byre to dance away revision woes, see their friends perform in the marquee, and welcome the upcoming holiday season. This was my second time attending Christmas Ball and I can warmly conclude that this event is one of my favorite traditions in St Andrews. Ball Convenor Lucy Callaghan and the Christmas Ball Committee put their hearts into this year’s Christmas Ball, and it shows in every detail.

First, it was lovely to see so many people excited by (and dedicated to) the masquerade theme. One of my favorite parts of the night was seeing all the different masks, which ranged from simple lace to rainbow sequins and bold feathers. This theme added playfulness and creativity to the event that was certainly needed in anticipation of the upcoming revision week. Upon entering Kinkell Byre, we were greeted to the left with a giant mask decoration that served as a high point for group photos. Above us, Christmas trees adorned with bright baubles led us around the dance floor. To the right was one of my personal highlights: the sweet treats. The incredible folks at The Wee Dutchie serving unlimited mini dutch pancakes, and at Jannetta’s serving a wide range of ice cream flavors, deserve so much applause for their commitment to satisfying the St Andrews sweet tooth. The lines for these vendors were nonstop during the night, and so were they. Enormous kudos to the Christmas Ball Committee for adding warm sweet treats to the menu to combat the freezing temperatures outside!

We also indulged in some savory dishes outside, where Wee Green Events and Pizza Geeks were serving gyros and pizza. I lost count of the number of rosemary infused garlic breads– or “Dalek Breads”-- we ordered from Pizza Geeks. For all the foodies out there, Christmas Ball vendors will never disappoint. Additionally, the annual specialty cocktails offered at the bars were abundantly ordered and well received. 

Another consistent favorite at Christmas Ball is the photo booth room. This room embodies the holiday spirit with its enormous tree and beautifully decorated branch arches that lead to the booth, complete with hand painted ornaments and string lights. I was additionally delighted by the new selection of backgrounds for our photos, such as an underwater scene and a Tyrannosaurus in the jungle. This year’s Ball added an additional photo area with an antique frame and gold streamers, which was an ode to the masquerade theme. It is always fun to see an event carry its stated theme throughout its aesthetic details.

Moving onto the main stage, we danced away the early hours of the night to a wonderful performance by the acapella group The Other Guys before wandering into the marquee, where we listened to The Accidentals’ beautiful set. The marquee itself is always a gem of Christmas Ball, as it provides a more intimate and quiet space to chat with friends and take breaks from the bustling dance floor. The dark ceiling of the tent was illuminated by bright orbs mimicking a sky full of stars, with 1920s jazz and Christmas music playing throughout the night. There were an abundance of tables and water bottles to ensure as many people could enjoy the marquee as possible. My only suggestions would be adding more chairs and turning down the amps slightly on the main stage, as they bled into the marquee as the night went on. Overall, this was one of our favorite places to enjoy the Ball from.

The entertainment did not stop with the performances of the mainstage and marquee, which were followed by an enthusiastically received mix of Christmas and dance hits. We heard rumors of a fire show and followed them outside, where we found an incredible performance of dazzling tricks with flaming batons. I have been to many events in St Andrews and have never seen something like this before. I might even say that the fire from the batons helped warm us up in the freezing cold. This was a delightful side quest of the night and definitely raises the bar for Ball entertainment.

In summary, Christmas Ball 2024 was well worth it. Aside from the beautiful decorations, notable performances and tasty treats, it was so lovely to reunite with friends and make new ones throughout the night. With celebration in the air and the holidays on the way, this year’s Ball made for an enchanting end to the semester. 

All credit for Christmas Ball 2024 to Lucy Callaghan, Ball Convenor; Bella Hirst, Mermaids Vice President; Nicole Egorova, Executive Assistant; Eilidh Read and Elena Kalenti, Logistics Assistants; Nicole Klein, Creative Head; Emily Warden, Creative Assistant; Kaitlin Shaw, Music Officer; Alice Lee, Marketing Officer; Callisto Lodwick, Sponsorship Officer; and Despina Niki Rozos, Ticketing Officer.