List of debutante balls in the United States explained

The list of debutante balls in the United States aims to include notable debutante balls held in the United States.

Alabama

• Birmingham

• • The Ball of Roses^[1]
• Mobile
  • The Camellia Ball,^[2] held the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

California

• Los Angeles

• • Palos Verdes Assembly Presentation Ball^[3]
  • Las Madrinas Ball^[4]
  • Peninsula Ball - ^[5]
  • Bal Blanc de Noel - presentation of Les Fleurettes ^[6]

District of Columbia

• Washington, D.C.

• • The National Debutante Cotillion and Thanksgiving Ball^[7]

Florida

• Tampa:
  • Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Debutante Ball^[8]
• Sarasota:
  • The Debutante Program of Sarasota & Manatee Counties^[9]
• Clearwater

• • The Debutante Club of Clearwater

Indiana

• Indianapolis

• • Presentation of Daughters, Held since 1950 during the holiday season, the Presentation is a biennial ball of The Dramatic Club of Indianapolis (founded 1889).^[10]

Kentucky

• Lexington:
  • The Bluegrass Charity Ball^[11]

Louisiana

To be considered a Debutante in *New Orleans, a young woman must be presented at a party by her family and/or their friends, and at one or more of the following Clubs:

• • Le Debut des Jeunes Filles de la Nouvelle Orleans
  • The Bachelor's Club
  • The Pickwick Club
  • The Debutante Club
  • The Mid-Winter Cotillion
  • The Original Illinois Club
  • The Young Men Illinois Club

New Orleans Debutantes may also be invited to be presented in one or more Carnival organizations' balls, along with other young ladies who may not be making a formal debut, although the organizations generally prefer that the ladies they present are formally debuting):

• • Mistick Krewe of Comus, Founded in 1856(or 7)
  • The Twelfth Night Revelers (TNR), founded in 1870
  • Knights of Momus, founded in 1872
  • Rex, founded in 1872
  • Krewe of Proteus, founded in 1882
  • The Atlanteans, founded in 1891
  • Elves of Oberon, founded in 1895
  • Krewe of Nereus, founded in 1895
  • The High Priests of Mithras, founded in 1897
  • Krewe of Athenians, founded 1909
  • Krewe of Mystery, founded in 1912
  • Mystic, founded in 1923
  • Prophets of Persia, founded 1927
  • The Grand Ball of Osiris, founded in 1934
  • Dorians, founded in 1937
  • Caliphs of Cairo, founded 1937
  • Krewe of Achaeans, founded in 1947

And/or in other organizations' presentations, like:

• • Society of the War of 1812 in Louisiana

In Lafeyette, debutantes are presented at the DAR/SAR George Washington Debutante Ball^[12]

Maryland

• Washington D.C.

• • Gridiron Club Dinner
  • United States presidential inaugural balls
  • Russian Ball, Washington, D.C.
  • Assembly Club of Hagerstown, MD

Massachusetts

• Boston

• • The Boston Cotillion, which benefits the Vincent Memorial Hospital.^[13]

Michigan

• Detroit

• • The Debutante Club^[14]

Missouri

• Kansas City

• • The Jewel Ball, founded in 1954, which benefits the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Kansas City Symphony.^[15]
• St. Louis

• • The Veiled Prophet Ball, founded in 1878, which caters to the members of the Veiled Prophet Organization, a secret society of prominent St. Louisans
  • Fleur de Lis Ball, a Roman Catholic ball founded in 1959, named after the symbol associated with French kings and the city's French heritage, which raises money for the Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital.^[16]
• Springfield

• • The Heather Court Ball, associated with Highland Springs Country Club. All presentees are the daughters or granddaughters of Members and are of at least 16 years of age.^[17]
  • The Snowflake Ball, associated with Hickory Hill Country Club. All presentees are the daughters and granddaughters of Members.
  • Rose Ball, Twin Oaks debutante ball that presents members’ daughters and granddaughters, sixteen years of age or Sophomores or Juniors in High School, to the membership. The presentation highlights her accomplishments and a celebratory ball concludes the evening. This tradition began at Twin Oaks in 1963. https://twinoakscountryclub.com/rose-ball

Nebraska

• Omaha:
  • Omaha Symphony Debutante Ball was established in 1966 as an annual fund-raising event traditionally held on December 27.^[18]

New York

• New York City

• • Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner
  • The International Debutante Ball, held each even-numbered year
  • The Viennese Opera Ball in New York

• Rochester

• • The Rochester Bachelors' Cotillion was founded in 1950 by a group of single young men from some of Rochester's social circles that wished to repay their social debt. It is a white tie ball held annually at the Genesee Valley Club.^[19]

North Carolina

• Cary

• • The Cary Debutante Society Ball^[20]
• Charlotte:
  • The Charlotte Guild Debutante Club^[21]
• Durham

• • Debutante Cotillion and Christmas Ball of Durham^[22]
• Gastonia

• • Gastonia Debutante Ball^[23]
• Greensboro

• • The Greensboro Symphony Presentation Ball^[24]
• Greenville

• • Carolinian Debutante Ball^[25]
• Raleigh

• • The Terpsichorean Society Debutante Ball
• Wilmington

• • North Carolina Azalea Festival^[26]

Ohio

• Cleveland

• • The Assembly Ball, presented by The Recreation League of Cleveland^[27] annually since 1937 at The Union Club.^[28]

CINCINNATI - The Bachelors Cotillion, held annually since 1925

Pennsylvania

• Pittsburgh

• • Cinderella Ball, founded in 1924.^[29]
• Philadelphia

• • The Philadelphia Charity Ball, founded in 1881.^[30]
• Valley Forge

• • The Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Debutante Ball^[31]

South Carolina

• Charleston

• • The St. Cecilia Ball^[32]
• Lexington
  • The Lexington Cotillion Holiday Ball^[33]

Texas

• Laredo

• • The Society of Martha Washington Debutante Ball^[34]
• Tyler

• • The Texas Rose Festival^[35]
• Dallas

• • The Idlewild Club^[36]
• San Antonio

• • The Charity Ball^[37]
• Fort Worth

• • Steeplechase Ball^[38]
• Waxahachie

• • Symphony Belles and Beaus^[39]

Virginia

• Chantilly

• • The Old Dominion Cotillion^[40]
• Ettrick

• • Wives of Beaux-Twenty Debutante Cotillion^[41]
• Richmond

• • Bal du Bois^[42]
  • The Richmond German Christmas Dance^[43]
  • Virginia DAR State Conference Debutante Presentation^[44]

Washington

• Tacoma

• • Tacoma Holiday Cotillion

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ball of Roses to benefit Alabama Ballet. AL.com. 29 May 2015. 2016-05-19.
2. Web site: 61st Camellia Ball, featuring Mobile Carnival Association debutantes (Photos). 29 November 2013.
3. Web site: http://pvassembly.org/.
4. Web site: Las Madrinas Announces 2013 Debutantes. Archivist. 2013-07-17. westsidetoday.com. 2016-05-19.
5. Web site: Peninsula Ball . peninsulaball.collectiveweb.net . December 30, 2018.
6. Web site: LA Canada Thursday Club - Les Fleurettes Debutante Program . lacanadathursdayclub.org . December 30, 2018.
7. Web site: National Debutante Cotillion and Thanksgiving Ball. bethesdamagazine.com. 17 December 2013. 2016-05-19.
8. Web site: YE MYSTIC KREWE OF GASPARILLA DEBUTANTE BALL. 2020-10-30. Tampa Bay Times. en.
9. Web site: Debutante Program of Sarasota . 18 October 2021.
10. Book: The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. 0253112494. Bodenhamer. David J.. Barrows. Robert G.. 22 November 1994. Indiana University Press .
11. Web site: Bluegrass Charity Foundation in Central Kentucky . 2023-02-01 . www.bluegrasscharityfoundation.org.
12. News: Wartelle. Kris. May 4, 2017. Daughters of the American Revolution celebrate 58. The Daily Advertiser. Lafeyette, Louisiana. April 24, 2024.
13. News: Young ladies night out. Boston.com. 25 December 2010. 2016-05-19.
14. Web site: The Debutante Club. TCSDEF.org. 2016-06-11.
15. Web site: Upcoming Events « The Jewel Ball « The Independent. kcindependent.com. 2016-06-07.
16. Web site: The 2015 Fleur de Lis Ball. Ladue News. 30 December 2015 . 2016-05-19.
17. Web site: Rules & Regulations - Highland Springs Country Club - Springfield, MO . 2022-02-27 . www.highlandsprings.com.
18. Web site: Debutante Ball. 2020-07-30. Omaha Symphony. en.
19. Web site: Sign Up LinkedIn. 2020-09-18. linkedin.com. en.
20. Web site: Cary Lifestyle. 2020-09-18. citylifestyle.com. en.
21. Web site: THE CHARLOTTE GUILD DEBUTANTE CLUB Charity Navigator Profile . 2024-08-16 . www.charitynavigator.org . en.
22. Web site: Debutante Ball Society of Durham Inc. Records, 1951-2018 .
23. Web site: Debutantes to be presented at the 2019 Gastonia Debutante Ball. 2020-09-18. Gaston Gazette. en.
24. Web site: Debutante Program Greensboro Symphony Guild. 2020-09-18. en-US.
25. Web site: 2019-12-20. Carolinian Debutante Club to present 16 at annual ball. 2020-09-18. GREENVILLE JOURNAL. en-US.
26. Web site: North Carolina Azalea Festival. TayloeGray.com. ncazaleafestival.org. 2016-05-19.
27. Web site: Log in - Rec League of Cleveland. 2020-09-18. therecreationleagueofcleveland.com.
28. Web site: 2018-05-11. RECREATION LEAGUE OF CLEVELAND. 2020-09-18. Encyclopedia of Cleveland History Case Western Reserve University. en.
29. Web site: History. The Cinderella Ball. 2018-01-21.
30. Web site: http://www.philadelphiacharityball.com/. 2020-09-18. en-US.
31. Web site: Pennsylvania DAR/SAR/CAR Constitution Debutante Ball. . 2014 . Daughters of the American Revolution. April 24, 2024.
32. Web site: The Charleston Bucket List. Johnson. Rory. 2012-12-20. Charleston. 2016-06-07.
33. News: December 2017. Lexington Cotillion presents seven debutantes at Holiday Ball. The State Newspaper.
34. Web site: At Laredo's colonial pageant, Tex-Mex culture and Martha Washington meet. Times. Los Angeles. Los Angeles Times. 19 February 2016. 2016-05-19.
35. Web site: 40 young ladies to participate in Rose Festival - TylerPaper.com. TylerPaper.com. 19 September 2015 . en-US. 2016-05-19.
36. Web site: So you want to be a deb. Dmagazine.com. October 1976 . en-US. 2020-10-02.
37. Web site: The Charity Ball. Charityball.org. en-US. 2020-10-02.
38. Web site: Steeplechase Ball. Fwtx.com/culture. 7 November 2012. en-US. 2020-10-02.
39. Web site: Belles and Beaus Gala. waxahachiesun.com. 9 June 2021 . 2022-07-08.
40. Web site: 2018-08-23. Old Dominion Cotillion Hosts 27th Debutante Ball. 2020-09-18. Reston, VA Patch. en.
41. Web site: Report. Contributed. WOBT celebrates 40th debutante cotillion. 2020-09-18. The Progress-Index. en.
42. Web site: Bal du Bois. 2020-09-18. Sheltering Arms®. en-US.
43. News: Richmond German presents debutantes. en. Richmond Times-Dispatch. 2020-09-18.
44. Web site: Virginia DAR State Conference Debutantes . Forsythe. Anne-Cabrie. 2021. Virginia Children of the American Revolution. Children of the American Revolution. April 24, 2024.