Dragons, masked assassins, vampires, witches, dark elves and myriad other fantasy beings will be stirring at Redmond’s High Desert Music Hall on Friday, Oct. 30 as the Bend Burlesque Company and Pangaea Guild Hall team up for a night of “Fears & Fantasies,” an immersive dark-fantasy experience. This isn’t the usual Halloween party.
The 8pm show will feature 10 Bend Burlesque performers who’ll combine their dancing prowess with pole, flow arts, aerial silks and storytelling. After the show, there’s a “Dance of the Damned” party, while prior to the show, Pangaea Guild Hall is offering a 6pm optional fantasy-themed dinner. It’s celebrating its recent expansion to open a full-time restaurant and gaming space billed as a place to “eat, play and belong” in the High Desert Music Hall.
The three-course dinner will be served community style, so attendees can get to know each other, with the menu including pumpkin bisque served in baby pumpkins; pork loin stuffed with apple chutney, mashed potatoes, glazed carrots and broccolini, and apple layer cake. A vegetarian dinner option of portabella steak with chimichurri is also available. There’ll also be live entertainment during the dinner, including a magician and singers, and “guild” tables where vampires can nosh with fellow bloodsuckers and elves can bond at another table.
“It’s a great opportunity to go and meet some new people in the community, which I think we can sometimes be shy about as adults, and we’re really encouraging you to lean into the fantasy of it,” said Ivy DeVine, owner of Bend Burlesque.
During the post-dinner show, expect a plethora of performers, including pole dancers and an aerial-silk and “flow” artist who use LED lights, similar to fire artists but, because it’s inside, without the live flame.
“It’s an adult show, but like a variety show,” DeVine said. “Burlesque has a long history in being sultry, satirical entertainment. A lot of people think, ‘Oh, burlesque dancers just put feathers in their hair and take off their clothes,’ but it’s really a lot more than that. It has its roots in Paris, and while there is this sensual element to it, it really started as a way to make commentary about the social, pop, cultural and political landscape, in this really cheeky way. A lot of performers would dress as different characters or even like politicians, and then there was a sexually charged dance routine or song but often with a comedic element. Today, it’s really found a rebirth, and is often called ‘neo-burlesque.’”
Costumes are encouraged but not required at the adults-only event, DeVine said.
“They’re strongly encouraged, but everyone is always welcome to come as they are,” DeVine said. “That’s one of our tenets, coming as you are, and being accepted as you are, but we are dramatic, theatrical people, so we love costumes and always encourage them. But there’s no judgement. If that’s not your thing, you can still come and enjoy the show.”
“Fears & Fantasies” burlesque show, dinner and dance party
Fri., Oct. 30; doors open 5:30pm, dinner 6pm, show 8pm, dance party 10pm
Pangaea Guild Hall, located in High Desert Music Hall
818 SW Forest Ave., Redmond
bendticket.com/events/fears-fantasies-10-30-2026
Price varies
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