Hollywood glitz and glam rolled into Auburn Saturday night where life-size decorations, costumes and live entertainment filled the streets of Downtown.

“We love to dance and thought this would be the perfect event to come to,” said Jennifer Spain of Cameron Park who attended Saturday’s Black & White Ball with her boyfriend, Bob Hansen of Lin-coln. “We are here to experience a little bit of everything.”

Spain dressed as a Southern Belle and Hansen her suitor for this year’s ball, themed “Hollywood: You Ought to be in Pictures.”

Saturday’s ball hosted three bands, more than 40 food vendors and life-size decorations including a six-foot-tall director’s chair, an eight-foot-tall movie reel and an 18-foot-tall dinosaur.

“The decorations are just awesome,” said Elizabeth Dillender of Roseville, who attended the ball for the first time with her friend, Rosie Nardi. “A bunch of people were coming into the store we work at, the White and Black Market, to buy stuff for the ball. We just knew we had to come.”

Nardi said she was looking forward to experiencing all aspects of the ball Saturday.

“The atmosphere, the music and the food is great,” Nardi said. “I am so excited to hear (the band) Little Texas.”

Preparation for the ball started in the early morning hours Saturday as dozens of volunteers worked to set up staging, lights, food booths and decorations.

The nationally-known country western group Little Texas, which might be best known for its hit “God Blessed Texas,” performed familiar hits and David Martin’s House Party performed everything from big band music to disco and classic rock.

Tainted Love also made a return to the ball. The group specializes in dance hits of the 1980s, and plays music from Bruce Springsteen and others.

More than 400 volunteers worked the event, doing everything from selling tickets to pouring drinks.

Local public safety personnel from Auburn, Placer County and the California Highway Patrol also supervised the ball.

“This is the big event in Auburn,” said Jennifer Horne of Auburn, who has attended the ball for the past several years. “Just being with friends, listening to the music, it’s awesome.”

Husband and wife Brian and Michelle Laird of Auburn dressed as Phantom of the Opera characters to get into Saturday night’s theme.

“We have never been and thought it would be neat to experience the ball,” Michelle Laird said. “When else can you get dressed up and go out like this in Auburn?”

The Journal’s Jenna Nielsen can be reached at jennan@goldcountrymedia.com or comment on this story at auburnjournal.com.