The Lover's Ball vogue event returns to Mayo Street Arts

Aquarius Funkk and Prismatic Productions host the annual mini-ball celebrating love and self-expression.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Aquarius Funkk and Prismatic Productions are hosting The Lover's Ball, a vogue-inspired mini-ball event, at Mayo Street Arts in Portland, Maine on Saturday, February 28th. The event will feature performances, runway competitions, and a celebration of love, self-expression, and the LGBTQ+ ballroom community.

Why it matters

The Lover's Ball is an annual event that pays homage to the underground ballroom culture founded by Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ communities. It provides a platform for queer artists and performers to showcase their talents and celebrate their identities in a welcoming, inclusive space.

The details

The Lover's Ball will feature runway competitions across several categories, including Best Dressed - Date Night, Sex Siren - Divine Figure, Runway - St. Valentine, Tag Team Face - Twin Flame, and Body - The Breakup. Competitors will be judged on their costumes, performance, and 'realness' in embodying the themes. The event will be hosted by Aquarius Funkk, with DJ Ben Spaulding and judges DB Greene, Thazra, and G-Spott Bvlgari Funkk.

  • The Lover's Ball will take place on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 6 p.m.

The players

Aquarius Funkk

An artist whose work is influenced by Afrofuturism, Black culture, high fashion, sci-fi, and their own queer and non-binary lived experiences. They are known as 'The Interplanetary Extraordinary' and their performances blend vogue ballroom, neo-burlesque, street performance, and experimental dance and theatre.

Prismatic Productions

An event production company co-hosting The Lover's Ball with Aquarius Funkk.

Mayo Street Arts

A community arts center in Portland, Maine that is hosting The Lover's Ball and serves as a performance venue, gallery, and gathering space for artists.

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The takeaway

The Lover's Ball celebrates the vibrant LGBTQ+ ballroom community and provides a platform for queer artists and performers to express themselves freely and proudly. It's an event that embraces diversity, self-love, and the power of collective joy in the face of oppression.