Macon’s lavish sneaker ball returns for a 3rd year. How much does it cost to attend?

Macon-Bibb County officially announced the details of this year’s Sneaker Ball, and it promises to be as opulent as its previous two years.

The Sneaker Ball, which will take place Dec. 14, is an annual event the city hosts known for its pomp and circumstance. The event features music, hors d’oeuvres and invites residents to dress to the nines in formal wear paired with sneakers. However, the event is also known for its high cost to attend.

This year is no exception. The event does not have individual table seats available for purchase. Instead, groups or organizations can sponsor the event through purchasing tables and all of the seats that come with them.

The cheapest of these packages, which comes with one table with eight seats and covers food, is $1,000. The gold package, which is one step up, costs $5,000 and comes with a table and extras. The most expensive package comes out to $15,000 and includes two tables.

There’s a cost-effective option to attend: the event offers individual tickets that do not come with table seating. These tickets cost $40 each and must be bought in advance.

Andrea Cooke, chair of the Sneaker Ball’s planning committee, said she hopes to make this year more inclusive.

“We are very intentional in making sure this is an inclusive event, and then we are also very intentional about making sure that people who would not typically be able to come to an event like this will be able to have an opportunity,” Cooke said.

What does the money go toward?

The proceeds from this year’s event will help fund scholarships, Cooke said. Because of that, the committee is partnering with the Bibb County School District to include local students and teachers. The committee has also previously partnered with recipients of Macon Violence Prevention grants.

Cooke said the committee is also open to partnering with new groups to identify people who aren’t able to participate due to financial constraints and provide them with free tickets.