Greetings esteemed members of Twin Cities ‘Ton’… the social season is upon us! After the highly-rated openings in Los Angeles, Washington DC, Chicago, Atlanta, and Montreal, The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience is making its Minneapolis debut this November! The ball takes place at Lighthouse ArtSpace in Northeast Minneapolis Arts District. It officially opened to the public on Tuesday, November 15, and I had the privilege of attending as a VIP guest last Thursday – thanks to Hunt & Gather for the opportunity!

I was able to bring a couple of guests so I took my friend Vony and Renny, as what is a fun night without friends, right? Here are pics from the festivities:

As VIP guests, we got to bypass the lines as there was a special entrance for members of the Queen’s Court. Once we got into the ballroom, we were greeted by the voice of our favorite enigmatic narrator, Lady Whistledown, as we were transported to Regency-era London for a live performance by a string quartet playing Bridgerton’s memorable soundtrack. Alongside the musical interlude, guests have the opportunity to explore immersive rooms, interact with high society aristocratic characters, and participate in much-loved moments inspired by the Shondaland hit series on Netflix. Check out the trailer below on what to expect:

As Winter just reared its ugly head, it was fun to escape to a festive ball and they did a splendid job transforming the space into a Regency-era banquet. Even the hallway leading up to the ballroom is beautifully decorated with era-appropriate light fixtures and chandeliers, as an attendant hands out Lady Whistledown’s Society Paper. The attendants are dressed in Regency costumes, complete with actors dressed as the show’s characters.

We were treated to complimentary Bridgerton-themed cocktails in the exclusive VIP lounge before we gathered around the center of the ballroom in anticipation of the Queen. It was great for people watching as most people were dressed in their finest period frocks, I met a woman who actually made her own dress! At the end of the night, one lucky lady was chosen by Queen Charlotte as the diamond of the night and she was showered with confetti.

Photo Credit: Federico Imperiale

This glitzy gathering should please fans of Netflix’s Bridgerton series or those who are into period dramas like Jane Austen or Downton Abbey. I’ve seen both seasons and one of the main highlights of the show is definitely the set pieces and elaborate costumes. Bridgerton is one of the most expensive Netflix series, with an estimated budget of $7 million per episode, which mostly goes towards the location and those intricate costumes, so it’s no surprise that its popularity inspired this idea of an immersive experience. I actually attended the popular Van Gogh Immersive Experience in the same location just a year ago, and some of Van Gogh’s paintings still graced the wall of Lighthouse ArtSpace.

I wouldn’t say I’m a die-hard fan of the show but I am a huge fan of period dramas. I think if you’re a fan of the show, you’d get more out of this immersive experience, but even if you’re not too familiar with it, I think the event would still be amusing and entertaining. I’m not much into glitzy nightlife but I had a grand time… my friend even got me to participate in a group dance led by two of the main dancers dressed as the Duke and his love interest Daphne. I recognized Patrick as the Duke from Collide Theatrical Dance Company as I had seen him perform in one of their shows. The romantic dance is the highlight of the night for me, and the center of the ballroom with the cascading floor-to-ceiling curtain was designed as part of the dance repertoire.

Photo Credit: Federico Imperiale

At the end of the 90-minute experience, we were led to another room that resemble Madame Delacroix’s modiste featuring some of the gorgeous costumes from the series. Fans of the series can even purchase souvenirs from the shop, and VIP guests get 20% off select merchandise.

Before we left, we got our portrait taken at a Regency-era Painting Studio. I love that instead of getting a piece of paper, we just scan a QR code to download our portrait straight to our mobile phone.

So overall I had a fabulous time. If you want to go, you must make haste, the Minneapolis immersive experience runs only through December 18.