Culture
Vizcaya Ball 2024
The 67th Annual Vizcaya Ball Celebrates “Vizcaya Royale” Theme
Iconic 1960s-inspired evening raises vital funds for historic preservation at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
On Saturday, November 23, 2024, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens hosted its 67th Annual Vizcaya Ball, a black-tie event celebrating the late 1960s-inspired theme, “Vizcaya Royale.” This year’s event welcomed more than 360 prominent Miami philanthropists and society leaders to the National Historic Landmark, raising critical funds to preserve the estate and share its cultural resources with our community.
“The Vizcaya Ball is a treasured tradition that celebrates Miami’s cultural heritage while ensuring Vizcaya remains a beacon of history and inspiration for future generations,” said Joel Hoffman, Executive Director of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.
The evening began with a pink-carpet welcome at Vizcaya’s Main House, where guests arrived in vintage-inspired evening gowns and tailored tuxedos, channeling the refined glamour of the late 1960s. A lively cocktail reception filled the historic Courtyard, as live classical music set the tone for an unforgettable evening. Guests mingled while browsing an exquisite collection of auction items, all in support of Vizcaya’s preservation mission.
The celebration continued with a waterfront dinner prepared by Thierry Catering and Event Design, offering views of Vizcaya’s iconic Stone Barge and the glittering Biscayne Bay. Entertainment by the Valerie Tyson Band and a captivating dance performance by the New Century Dance Company elevated the energy as guests took to the dance floor under a canopy of stars.
This year’s Vizcaya Ball was co-chaired by esteemed patrons Nancy McCormick and Ray Rasco, along with Alexa and Adam Wolman, supported by a prestigious Ball Committee: Tatiana Arteaga Teo, Suzy Buckley Woodward, Eilah Campbell-Beavers, Elizabeth Costa de Rusch, Swanee DiMare, Sandra Fiorenza, Roxana Garciga, Sonia Gibson, John Grisham, Camila Guiribitey, Cathy Jones, Marile Lopez, Linda Lynn Levy, Christy Martin, Sheila Martinez, Nancy McCormick, Ken O’Keefe, Cammy Richards, Yvonne Rosemeier and Josie Wang.
Premier Sponsor included Citadel & Citadel Securities and Griffin Catalyst. Presenting Sponsors included Lynn Atkinson and David Drucker, Guiribitey Family Foundation, Nancy McCormick and Ray Rasco, Ken O’Keefe and Jason Stephens. Republic National Distributing Company was the Beverage Sponsor with Logistic Events as the Decor Sponsor.
Proceeds from the Vizcaya Ball will directly fund the ongoing preservation of the Vizcaya estate and the innovative community programs hosted within in.
ABOUT VIZCAYA MUSEUM AND GARDENS
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a National Historic Landmark that preserves its cultural and environmental resources to engage people in connecting with the past, understanding the present and shaping the future. Built between 1914 and 1922 as the winter home of farming manufacturer James Deering, Vizcaya is one of the most intact remaining examples from this era in the United States, when the nation’s most successful entrepreneur-built estates were inspired by the stately homes of Europe. Vizcaya features a Main House filled with a decorative art collection, 10 acres of formal gardens, a rockland hammock (native forest), and mangrove shore. The estate also includes the historic Vizcaya Village, which is being restored to tell Vizcaya’s full story and provide additional spaces for programs and community outreach, including urban farming initiatives. Vizcaya has been a community hub since it opened to the public in 1953; it welcomes 300,000 visitors annually.
Located on Biscayne Bay at 3251 South Miami Avenue, Vizcaya is open Wednesday through Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Tuesdays, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. For more information, visit www.vizcaya.org, connect via social media, or call 305-250-9133.
Photos courtesy World Red Eye