For the last few years I have traveled to Omaha, NE to attend a Fezziwig Ball sponsored by the Old Dominion Dance group based in Omaha, NE. While it occurs outside of the “spatial” boundaries of Siouxland it is a fun event to watch and even more so for those participating in the dancing that occurred during the Charles Dicken’s story “A Christmas Carol” as Ebenezer Scrooge’s life is viewed by various ghostly visitors helping him find a change of heart during the Christmas season.
Most people attending dress in period outfits and it’s a family friendly dance that with a few instructions are easy to learn, although it never appears that way. It’s tough when one has trouble knowing left from right and clockwise and counterclockwise. And from the attendance it is a very popular event that keeps growing year to year.
This year I only photographed and didn’t film any video. Sometimes it is difficult to do both and be successful. Previously because of work or weather conditions I haven’t always been able to attend. But it’s nice to hang out with folk that just enjoy the holiday and the lesson of Dicken’s story and setting aside anything else for a couple of hours. Life then as now, is never simple, sometimes it just seems so in retrospect. But taking a time out is not a bad thing.
I live in the Siouxland area that encompasses a wide swatch of land in northwest Iowa, northeastern Nebraska and southeastern South Dakota. The people that inhabit this area are generous folk and your basic honest, Midwestern people you like to have as neighbors. I explore the area and share observations, mostly photographic, sometimes through video, and and short text. All images and video are copyrighted material of the author.
Jerry Mennenga, Sioux City, Iowa
jerrylmennenga@yahoo.com
lostinsiouxland 
That looks like fun! It’s more than just watching the movie or reading the book.
It is fun to watch and those participating seem to enjoy themselves. A nice alternative to other kinds of celebratory events.
It involves the history of the time period. The clothes, customs, etc.