Partygoers attending tonight’s 10th annual Suitcase Party at Patten Gym can expect vacation raffles, a Singled Out competition, a hypnotist — and none of the capacity issues encountered last week for the A&O Ball.
A&O Productions’ leaders were forced to limit the number of tickets sold for their concert last week because Evanston fire department Division Chief Alan Berkowsky limited Patten’s maximum capacity at 1,200 people, down from 1,800 from past events.
But Berkowsky said no such restrictions will be put in place for Suitcase Party, which begins at 8 p.m.
“The restrictions had a lot to do with construction of a stage in the gym,” Berkowsky said.
Evanston fire department will still be “popping in” during the event to make sure the number of partygoers does not spill over the gym’s maximum capacity, Berkowsky said.
Suitcase Party co-chairwoman Dianna Di Iorio said she doesn’t expect a problem with overcrowding.
“Some people will come early and leave early,” said Di Iorio, a Weinberg senior. “It’s very rare that people will stay the whole time.”
Di Iorio said she expects about 2,000 people — the same number as last year — to attend tonight’s event, which benefits La Rabida Children’s Hospital.
Last year’s party raised more than $32,000 for The Children’s Place, an organization that assists children infected with HIV and AIDS.
Di Iorio said this year’s executive committee chose La Rabida, a hospital that treats terminally-ill patients, because it offered impressive volunteer opportunities.
“(La Rabida) has in-patient and out-patient services, so we’ve been able to bring the out-patient kids to campus,” she said. “They allowed us to reach out to a greater number of children.”
Di Iorio said most of the money raised for La Rabida will come from ticket sales and raffle ticket purchases.
In an effort to increase the event’s appeal, Di Iorio said this year’s party will feature more activities than last year.
“In the past, we focused on winning trips and raffles, but … now there’s more of a focus on the entertainment facet,” said Di Iorio. “It’s the largest non-alcoholic party on campus.”
Other new activities include a dance floor with music provided by a DJ from Chicago radio station WKSC-FM (103.5) as well as a henna tattoo artist.
Tickets, on sale at Norris University Center and The Rock, cost $8 before the event and $9 at the door. For $10, students can take home both a ticket and a T-shirt.
More than 100 prizes will be raffled off during the party, including seven trips to destinations spanning North America such as Los Angeles; New York; Reno, Nev.; and Windsor, Canada. Other raffle prizes include a $500 gift certificate to Circus nightclub, a weekend stay at Evanston’s Omni Orrington Hotel and gift certificates to Evanston eateries.
