• March 19-22, 2026
  • Lancaster County Convention Center, Lancaster, PA

Octavia’s Evening Ball

Octavia’s Evening Ball is Friday’s formal event for all ages! Prepare for a decadent evening of cosplay, music, and dance with a flair of Isekai. We look forward to seeing everyone dressed to the nines! This is a highly attended event. We cannot guarantee all will be admitted. 

Dance Lessons

Dance Lessons provided prior to the event by ballroom dancer, Diana Hong. Formal dress is not required for the Dance Lessons. 

Diana Hong is a ballroom dance geek from the DC area who has taught for 11 years at various venues – the Upper Main Line YMCA, Zenkaikon 2014 -2022, AnimeNext in 2018-2019, and Katsucon since 2013. She owned Dance Muse Studio in PA until 2012 and was the expert judge at the 2012 Dancing with the SMM Stars Gala in Drexel Hill, PA. Prior to 2009, Diana competed Pro-Am actively on the Arthur Murray circuit, winning Top Lady awards in Bronze in regional events. A rabid manga and anime fan, Diana likes shoujo and josei genres, usually with a school life or fantasy twist.

Dress Code 

As with any formal event, there is a dress code and some expected decorum. Since this event’s main feature is music and dance, attendees should be sure to wear attire that they can move comfortably in. Although the dress code will allow admittance to Octavia’s Evening Ball, not all forms of dress are appropriate.

Attendees should not wear costume pieces or shoes that can easily come off. No props are allowed. Actual costume is not required, but the dress code must be adhered to.

Allowed Formalwear:  

  • Formal Costumes*
  • Prom dresses*
  • Formal gowns*
  • Lolita (EGL/EGA)*
  • Oji Lolita
  • Cocktail Dresses*
  • Formal Separates
  • Kimono and Cheongsam
  • Formal Medieval/Renaissance/Period Attire
  • Suits
  • Tuxedos
  • Dress Uniforms
  • Kilts (with appropriate additional attire)
  • Dress shirt, with tie (bow/necktie/cravat/bolo)
 

*All dresses/skirts should be approximately knee length or longer 

Appropriate Footwear: 

  • Dress Shoes
  • Heels
  • Dress Flats
  • Formal and Period Boots
  • Geta and Zori (only with appropriate Asian formal attire)
  • Dressy Sandals

Not Allowed:

  • Formal Wear that drags on the floor (examples: trains, ribbons, etc.)
  • Wings, bulky armor, or other attachments that extend off the body
  • Jeans
  • Shorts
  • T-shirts
  • Clothing with excessive chains, straps, or buckles
  • Bare midriffs
  • Skin-tight apparel 
  • Miniskirts (skirts above the knee)
  • Cut-off or shredded clothing
  • Sneakers, non-dressy sandals and flip-flops
  • Boots with heavy straps and studs that are not formal in nature (examples: Doc Martens and biker boots)
  • Props such as, but not limited to swords, axes, cudgels, and sporting equipment

In general, clothing should be modest, not skin tight, and not reveal a large amount of skin. It should also not drag on the floor with a long train. Think of what a person or character might wear to a formal event like a wedding or prom. Crossplay is welcome as long as the attire is appropriate for the character being portrayed. Accessories like top hats, canes, or hand fans are welcome.