LUNAR RENDEZVOUS IS BACK
Fashion Show Co-Chairmen Kathy Rea and Wendy Drapela greet court members and their families at kick-off to promote the July 20 style show.
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Emmeline Dodd radiates Caribbean Chic at the 56th Annual Lunar Rendezvous Festival Dining Night.
FTER POSTPONING its 2020 season due to the pandemic, Lunar Rendezvous Festival is all systems go with the last fundraising event around the corner! The event of the summer, the 56th Annual Lunar Rendezvous Fashion Show will be held at the San Luis Convention Center on Tuesday, July 20. Co-Chairmen Wendy Drapela and Kathy Rea will kick off the fun at 10 a.m. with activities including both a live and silent auction, a sit down luncheon, and a “Sweet as Sugar” fashion show coordinated by Houston’s leading fashion event producer, Lenny Matuszewski. Tickets are available at https://www.lunarrendezvous.org/tickets.php. The public is invited to come join this exciting event. This is the “see and be seen” event of the year and you don’t want to miss it! The season began as both the 2020 and the 2021 royal courts enjoyed a kick-off celebration April 18 at the League City Civic Center. Festivities included information tables for this year’s events, a selfie booth, a Kendra Scott pop up show, and the introduction of the 2020 Court, the 2021 Court, as well as the 2019-2020 Royal Court. Queen Samantha Williams, Queen Alternate Ashley Leistad, and Capt. David Oliver made a trip home from university to take part! The 2019 king, Slade Lewis, was also introduced. Because they were unable to do so in 2020, the 2019-2020 Royal Court will preside over this year’s festivities. The first fundraising event of the season was held on May 3 at Marais in Dickinson. Dining Night Chairperson, Mandie McMillan Crowder, hosted a Havana Night themed evening with fabulous food, live music by Andy & the Dreamsicles, livepainting by local artist Debi Starr, and a silent and live auction. The crowd came dressed in their Caribbean best with giving spirits. The live auction was a series of wildly successful bidding wars emceed by TJ Aulds of i45NOW.
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Bay Area Houston Magazine | JULY 2021
2019-2020 Royal Court members Lt. David Oliver, Queen Samantha Williams and Queen Alternate Ashley Leistad welcome the 2020 and 2021 Courts at the Lunar Rendezvous Kick-Off celebration.
MARY ALYS CHERRY
The 2021 Lunar Rendezvous Festival season will conclude July 24 at the San Luis Convention Center with the annual Coronation Ball. The reigning Royal Court, 2020 and 2021 Little Ladies in Waiting, Pages, Princesses and Lieutenants will be presented. The announcement of the new Royal Court, which will consist of the 2020 and 2021 Queens, Queen Alternates, and Captains is the highlight of the evening. This formal black tie event beautifully depicts the history, tradition and honor of the Lunar Rendezvous Festival. There will also be an opportunity drawing at the Coronation Ball. Drawing I, generously sponsored by HomeTown Bank of League City and Brockway Realty, is a gift card extravaganza totaling $2,000 to local businesses.
Jana and Richard Miller, left, celebrate his live auction win with Marais owner, Holly Lilley, who, with her husband Keith, donated a wine locker for a year, as well as several bottles of wine, to the Dining Night auction.
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BIGGER than ever!
The Little Ladies in Waiting and Pages take a moment for a selfie with Little Court Co-Chairman Elizabeth Olin.
Drawing II, generously donated by Lewis Jewelers, is $1,000 in store shopping spree at Lewis Jewelers. Opportunity drawing tickets are $20 each or 6 for $100 and may be purchased through any Court member, or by contacting Audra Bentley at audra@civetrealestate.com. “Don’t miss your chance to win one of these great prizes,” the chairmen said, adding that winners do not need to be present to claim prizes. Clear Lake’s Lunar Rendezvous Festival is dedicated to providing community-based support including scholarships for higher education, youth development and educational programs, funding for the arts and historical preservation in the Bay Area Houston/NASA area. Donations to the Lunar Rendezvous Scholarship Fund can be made at https://www.lunarrendezvous.org/tickets.php. The Lunar Rendezvous Festival is made possible by its generous donors and sponsors. Those who would like to be a corporate sponsor should visit the website at https://www.lunarrendezvous.org/sponsorship.php
Greg Ploss proudly shows off his winning live auction bid during Dining Night -- a guitar signed by Kenny Chesney -- as Pam Ploss and Michael Landolt look on.
