A tradition once geared toward College of Design students has finally been opened to the general public.

The annual Beaux Arts Ball, themed “Venetian Carnival,” will be held Saturday. This is the second annual Beaux Arts Ball since being under the control of the two Iowa State-based architecture organizations, the American Institute of Architecture Students and the Iowa State Architecture Organization. The College of Design previously held the Beaux Arts Ball, but the tradition ended four years ago.

Since bringing the ball back, the idea behind it is a little different than before. The ball is open to more people this year.

“We hope to have college of design students, architecture students and people from the Ames community,” says Nicole Hoppenworth, Beaux Arts Ball chair. “We are trying to open it up throughout the university and bring themes that wouldn’t scare off non-design students.”

When the College of Design held the ball, different themes were chosen every year and they were always over-the-top and creative, Hoppenworth says. The themes ranged from “everything rubber” to pirates and were focused toward people in the College of Design only. Currently, the Beaux Arts Ball does not have such strict design-oriented themes, but people are still encouraged to dress up in costume.

Hoppenworth says formal wear, Halloween costumes and masks are preferred, but the Beaux Arts Ball is an “anything goes” type of event.

“Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras are both part of Carnival,” says Christina Kuecker, senior in architecture. “It is a time to indulge and let go of your inhibitions.”

To get people into the Carnival mood, the event will feature a disc jockey, dance floor, hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and door prizes, Hoppenworth says. The ball is sponsored by Ames businesses and architecture firms, which donated either cash or prizes.

A ball on campus is a rare thing, Hoppenworth says, and once a person comes to college there are not many opportunities to get dressed up for one big night.

What: “Venetian Carnival”

Where: Second Floor Lobby, Scheman Building

When: 8 p.m., Saturday

Cost: $10