As the ball drops in Times Square, the 10 piece dance band fills the ballroom with electric sounds reminiscent of a Brazilian carnival.

To ring in the new year, the Legendary Lake Monsters and Vernon Lodge present New Year害羞草研究所檚 Eve Carnival Dec. 31.

害羞草研究所淪ave the flight to Rio,害羞草研究所� Al Szeliga, founder and trumpeter laughed. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 one of the events where people can dress up and have a fun, classy evening out.害羞草研究所�

Following a South American carnival theme, the night features danceable Latin tunes mixed with a Brazilian-styled menu and cocktails.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 definitely an upscale event. It害羞草研究所檚 classy,害羞草研究所� said Anita Baturin, lead singer of the group. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a taste of Brazil.害羞草研究所�

Keeping with that theme, Brazilian carnival attire 害羞草研究所� masks, feathers and bright colours 害羞草研究所� are suggested but not required.

害羞草研究所淚f people just want to come and have a good time and not dress up, that害羞草研究所檚 fine too,害羞草研究所� Baturin said. 害羞草研究所淎nd just before midnight, they will be bringing out appetizers and special desserts.害羞草研究所�

The Legendary Lake Monsters, who rocked the Vernon Lodge New Year害羞草研究所檚 Eve party two years ago with a , will fill all three of the venue害羞草研究所檚 ballrooms in four sets with their iconic big-band rock sound with classic hits, pop jams and, of course, Latin jams.

害羞草研究所淲e really wanted it to be different,害羞草研究所� Baturin said of the planning stages with the Lodge. 害羞草研究所淭he (common) theme (for events) this year is Prohibition, but we wanted to do something different.害羞草研究所�

So when the Vernon Lodge proposed a Latin carnival theme, they knew they had found their niche.

害羞草研究所淲e all just kind of jumped on it,害羞草研究所� Baturin said. 害羞草研究所淲e all had these different ideas, and that was the one we thought, 害羞草研究所榊eah. Let害羞草研究所檚 do this.害羞草研究所� It害羞草研究所檚 going to look great. The Lodge always does such a special job decorating.害羞草研究所�

Complete with a variety of culinary options, including Brazilian sliders and Galinhada 害羞草研究所� chicken stew with yellow curry and coconut rice 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 a night the Vernon Lodge and Legendary Lake Monsters have been crafting since January.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a lot of work to put on an event like this and it really becomes a community event,害羞草研究所� Szeliga said, noting that the night also features Latin dance instruction.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e going to be featuring a Latin dance troupe who is going to show us how to rumba, cha-cha and salsa,害羞草研究所� Baturin said.

And, for Baturin and Szeliga, having a large dance floor available is an integral part of the show.

害羞草研究所淲hen we started the band, that was the whole idea,害羞草研究所� Szeliga said of the group he founded about five years ago.

Baturin, who joined the band in 2014, agreed.

害羞草研究所淲e wanted to be unique. We do a wide range of music and are always on the lookout for new material,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e bring people together to give them a taste of something out of the ordinary.害羞草研究所�

And they don害羞草研究所檛 plan on stopping anytime soon.

害羞草研究所淭he hardest part is to get the initial momentum,害羞草研究所� Szeliga said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e well past that now. It害羞草研究所檚 fun to create an event that害羞草研究所檚 of a good size and you can see all of the people coming from the community to enjoy themselves.害羞草研究所�

For Legendary Lake Monsters, seeing the audience enjoy themselves is what it害羞草研究所檚 all about.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 about the joy of music, making people happy so they can cover themselves in the magic of music,害羞草研究所� Baturin said. 害羞草研究所淚 feel so honoured and privileged to be a member of this group.害羞草研究所�

Szeliga agreed.

害羞草研究所淎ny time we play somewhere, it害羞草研究所檚 a 12 hour event,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ut it害羞草研究所檚 all worthwhile when you role home at 2 a.m.害羞草研究所�

The Legendary Lake Monsters and Vernon Lodge present New Year害羞草研究所檚 Eve Carnival Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $75 each at the Lodge, as well as room rates starting at $75. Stay tuned to the Legendary Lake Monsters害羞草研究所� Facebook page and the Vernon Lodge for promotional contests.