Each year the London Burlesque Festival exposes Londoners, as well as Burlesque connoisseurs across the globe, to over 100 of the World’s Best Burlesque Acts. This year, St. Louis is home to 3 of these amazing burlesque acts, and they are known to the entertainment world as Lola Van Ella, Sturdy Gurlesque, and Tomahawk Tassels. Now, like any team chosen to participate in a battle of talents, the fundraising begins…and these women are not selling cookies.

On March 28th the Koken Art Factory at 2500 Ohio Street will play host to the biggest burlesque party to ever hit St. Louis, THE BACCHANAL CARNAVALE, with an anticipated attendance of 1,200 fun-loving individuals. Starting at 8pm, the evening will be a non-stop artistic romp featuring St. Louis centric entertainment and culture. The St. Louis Burlesque collective will entertain the crowd with dancing, singing, fire eating, silk acrobats, and feats from the flying trapeze.

Acts will include such well known St. Louis Burlesquers as Go Go McGregor, The Bon Bons, Sugar Cyanide, Whiskey Kiss, Lily LeBlanc, Gravity Plays Favorites, Maggie McMuffins, Siren, and of course, special performances by ‘London Bound Beauties’ Lola van Ella, Sturdy Gurlesque, and Tomahawk. Other features will include The Morleys, Live Art by Pl@stic, clothing and art from Me Against the World, Raffles and auction for a Tom Huck original print, Signed limited edition bacchanal print by Josh Rowan, body painting, living statues, and an entire night of dance music as spun by DJ K-Ry.

“We are looking forward to a record breaking audience,” Lola smiles, “the group will be revealing new acts and fabulous costumes, I can’t think of a better send-off to London.”

All those taking part in the celebration are invited to don their best Greek or Roman attire. The St. Louis Burlesque performers are looking forward to seeing countless Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses, Fawns, Nymphs (because fairies did not exist in mythology), Titans, Dryads, Sirens, Minotaurs, Fabled Heroes, Trojans bearing gifts, and Harpy or two. One never knows when they will become part of an act.

“I have yet to attend a St. Louis Burlesque performance I didn’t like,” says Franklin Daniels, “the price of the ticket is worth every penny because you get a show and then all the conversations that stems from seeing that one show.” Admission will be $10 at the door and all proceeds will be circulated towards the betterment of the St. Louis burlesque program. The event will boast free guarded parking and a smoke-free environment, and it will be hosted by St. Louis’s very own Burlesque icon, Lola Van Ella.

Get your toga back from the dry cleaners because on March 28th, St. Louis Burlesque will be celebrating a spring awakening like no other.