The Little Princess Ball has had to change the time of its upcoming event after running into some unexpected scheduling issues at the venue.
The Ball, an annual fundraiser for the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, is now in its 12th year and is set for Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, at the Events Centre. The activity is a Disney-themed, resplendently decorated dress-up Ball for young princes and princesses and is usually quite popular with children.
The event on both days was supposed to run from 3 to 7 p.m., but the group recently announced on Facebook that, after some consideration, it was changing the Sunday time to 12 to 4 p.m.
“Due to a scheduling conflict at the Moose Jaw Event Centre, at no fault of our own, we have been advised to adjust the timing of our SUNDAY event,” the organization wrote.
“This was not an easy decision, as we know you have all chosen tickets that work for your schedules. However, we want to ensure that the quality and integrity of our Ball is not affected by this coinciding event.”
The Little Princess Ball organization said it was aware that this time change could cause some disruption or disappointment to parents and children and apologized for the inconvenience. It said all Sunday tickets would automatically transfer to the new time, which means ticketholders did not have to do anything.
“We ask for your patience and understanding as we navigate this very unforeseen circumstance. We assure you that our choice to shift the start time is in the best interest of our guests and will ensure it’s a great experience for all!” organizers said.
“If you have any questions or concerns regarding this change, please reach out by sending a direct message to our Facebook page. Huge thanks to everyone for your understanding and continued support of The Little Princess Ball.”
The Little Princess Ball began in 2009 and has had a major effect on the women’s health unit at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital, as the funds have helped purchase beds, heart monitors, incubators, and other items.
The 2022 edition of the Ball raised enough money to purchase another needed isolette incubator.
The Ball was held at the Heritage Inn for years, with food, crafts, activities, sparkly decorations everywhere, and volunteers dressed as Disney characters for pictures and dancing. Children and their parents dress up, too, creating a dream-like atmosphere that lights up children’s eyes and imaginations.
Organizers cancelled the event in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic before returning in 2022. However, they cancelled it last year after the previous organizing committee stepped down. Although a search was initiated for replacement committee members, the timeline was too short, leading to the cancellation announcement.
However, former chair Elaine Crocker decided to return to help co-chair this year’s event and ensure the new committee had support. She has previously compared the Ball to an over-the-top wedding, taking six months for a group of 10 to 12 people to put together.
Some seats are still available for Sunday, so visit SaskTix.ca or the Events Centre box office to purchase tickets.
