VERO BEACH — Frightening flappers and ghoulish gangsters gathered Saturday night at the Heritage Center in downtown Vero Beach to celebrate Halloween and raise funds for the historic landmark. The building had been transformed into a spooky speakeasy, with guests decked out in attire from the Roaring Twenties.
Luminaria led revelers to a secret entrance off the patio built earlier in the day by committee member Robert Paugh, who was dressed for the evening in a black and white chalk stripe double breasted suit. At the door, which had a peep hole, guests had to give the secret password, “Millie sent me,” an homage to Millie Bunnell, the woman who spearheaded preservation efforts of the building, located on 14th Avenue.
Guests dressed in the spirit of the era, with lots of fringed dresses, bobbed wigs, cloches, and long strands of pearls for the women, while the men sported wide brimmed hats, colorful shirts, and spectator shoes. Looking as though Al Capone had visited for the evening, volunteer bartender Gary Sack sported a gaping, bloody bullet hole on his right cheek as he served Tommy Gun Shots and Prohibition Punch to thirsty partiers.
Local resident Janet DeMichel channeled silent film star Theda Bara, dressed in white, wearing a stunning pearl and diamond headpiece.
“I never pass up the opportunity to buy or make something bizarre,” she said. “The people here are all so talented at decorating and dressing.”
After a red carpet stroll to start the evening off, the crowd dined on delights provided by Culinary Capers and danced to music from the ‘20s through modern times.
Sponsors for the evening included AR Choice Management, All in Fun, and Bill Bryant & Associates.
Raffle items were donated by A1A Property Management, Angela Morgan, Hurricane Wings and Grill, Longevity Fitness, Riverside Racquet Club, Springhill Suites, Bill’s Audio & Video Innovation, Blue Ribbon Boarding and Grooming, Gina and Larry Wattles, Ocean Oaks Dental Group, Dillards, Dr. Mallon, and Chris DeLess.
Heritage Center Executive Director Rebecca Rickey dressed in drag for the evening, wearing a mustache, slicked back hair, black shirt and white tie.
“It’s been a great evening,” said Rickey. “We put the fun back in fund raising.”