Event Location: Museum of Commerce
Story & Photography by: Danica Bardin
Event Date: April 18, 2026
Everyone was grooving to the music at the fifth annual Bootleg Ball: Studio 1559 on April 18 at the Museum of Commerce. The event, with 175 attendees expected, supported the University of West Florida Historic Trust and its ongoing fundraising efforts.
Sponsored by the Appleyard Family Foundation and other donors, the event helps advance the university’s mission to collect, preserve, and interpret the history and culture of Northwest Florida. Their work aims to educate and inspire the community while remaining grounded in historical accuracy.
Guests arrived dressed for the evening’s 1970s disco glam theme, wearing an array of sequin jumpsuits, gold accessories, feather boas, bell-bottom pants, and platform shoes. Disco balls and silver-sequined tablecloths set the scene across dinner and cocktail tables. DJ Albert Lao kept the dance floor lively with hits from ABBA, the Bee Gees, and Michael Jackson, as attendees sang along and danced on a colorful, retro-style LED floor.
“We’re going full-on into our 1970s,” said Wendi Davis, Visitor Experience Manager for the UWF Historic Trust. She noted that past themes have included a 1920s speakeasy and a 1950s-inspired Mad Men era. While each year features a different theme, Davis said the goal remains the same: good food, good music, and a fun way to raise funds for the organization.
Next year’s theme? Davis revealed it will take on a 1940s USO theme they’re calling Bootleg Ball: Zaragoza Swing.
